Tenerife, the largest and most populous of the Spanish Canary Islands, is a captivating destination. The place is renowned for its stunning landscapes, vibrant festivals, and warm climate. Sadly, the beautiful island has been caught in an out-of-control wildfire that has caused thousands of residents to leave their homes.
Thousands Had To Be Evacuated In Tenerife
Wildfire smoke turns the sky orange in Tenerife #Spain
VC: @Jan_IBZ#Wildfire #Spain #SantaCruz #Arafo #Tenerife #Fire #Climate #IFArafoCandelaria #Firefighters #Weather #Viral #Arafo #IFCandelaria #IFGüimar #Incendio #Europe #Heatwave pic.twitter.com/l0af5aDiYF
— Earth42morrow (@Earth42morrow) August 17, 2023
According to an article by Forbes, more than 26,000 people have been evacuated from a blazing wildfire on the Spanish island of Tenerife. There has been a significant increase from Friday, amid what authorities have described as the forested Canary Islands fire’s most challenging fire in 40 years. Due to the weather conditions getting worse overnight, more evacuations were requested.
About a million people live in the popular vacation destination in the Atlantic. Overnight, fierce flames lit up the night sky, Aircraft were spraying water on neighbourhoods where smoke was billowing close to the homes. Approximately 5,000 hectares (12,000 acres) with a circumference of 50 km have been torched thus far.
Popular tourist destinations on the island have not yet been impacted. Even, some airports are functioning smoothly. In hot and dry conditions, a fire broke out on Wednesday in a hilly national park surrounding Spain’s highest peak, the Mount Teide volcano.
Like the majority of mainland Spain, the Canary Islands have experienced drought for most of the last few years. The islands have had below-average rainfall in recent years due to weather patterns that have changed as a result of climate change.
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The Island Has Been Having Dry Weather Conditions
Some scary scenes coming out of Tenerife in the Canary Islands, Spain as an out-of-control wildfire continues to grow. The fire is now exhibiting extreme fire behaviour due to very dry conditions. A mandatory evacuation is in effect for villages threatened by the wildfire. pic.twitter.com/fE6pW0TXzm
— Nahel Belgherze (@WxNB_) August 16, 2023
Tenerife is a seven-island archipelago, situated southwest of mainland Spain and off the northwest coast of Africa.
No fatalities have been reported with the incident. The fire occurs during a heat wave that has brought dry weather to the Canary Islands. Even, a brutal heat wave swept over southern Europe last month. This left islands unusually dry, as well as during a year in which the islands have less rainfall than usual.
This year’s extreme heat and dry conditions have led to extremely destructive wildfires across Europe. Another wildfire broke out on Spain’s La Palma Island in July and Canada.
We hope the conditions get better soon!
Cover image credits: Canva