Firefighters battle huge wildfire on Gran Canaria
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is monitoring the situation in Gran Canaria, where troops and 200 firefighters are battling a huge mountain fire.
The FCO said: "Staff at our consulate in Las Palmas are monitoring the situation and stand ready to assist any British people who need help."
About 1,000 people have been evacuated from the area of the fire, which is about 20 miles from the capital Las Palmas.
Strong winds and temperatures of more than 32C are hampering efforts to douse the flames and firefighters say they are ‘overwhelmed’. Visitors are being told to avoid the area.
The fire poses a threat to several towns as well as the Tamadaba national park on the west of the island, according to the authorities.
The fire started on Saturday and had been brought under control, but it flared up again on Sunday morning. It’s believed it was started by a spark from a soldering iron. The smoke is visible across the island and from neighbouring Tenerife.
The Gran Canaria fire brigade tweeted: "We are overwhelmed by the situation. We continue working and fighting for our island."
The hill town of Artenara, the highest in Gran Canaria, has been evacuated. Plans are in place to evacuate Tejeda town if necessary.
Image by falco from Pixabay
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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