A forest fire has broken out on the island of Tenerife, forcing the evacuation of homes.
The blaze was detected shortly after noon on Monday in the north of the island, in the town of El Tanque.
The flames started just 500 metres from the Los Partidos Hotel and are now also affecting the municipality of Santiago del Teide.
As a precautionary measure, residents of the Valle de Arriba area have been evacuated.
The President of the Canary Islands Government, Fernando Clavijo, told citizens via X to follow the instructions of the security forces and to ‘stay informed’ through official channels.
The president of the Tenerife Island Council, Rosa Davila, added that ‘we cannot let our guard down.’
She added: ‘Even if it is an initial outbreak, the conditions of the terrain and the high temperatures can cause the situation to change in minutes. That is why we have activated all available resources.’
Davila said she is in constant contact with the mayor of El Tanque, Esther Morales, and the mayor of Santiago del Teide, Emilio Navarro, as well as with the authorities responsible for the operation.
Shortly before 7pm, a helicopter was roped into the firefighting effort, with footage shared online showing the aircraft preparing to take off.
It comes as wildfires are ravaging other destinations across Europe, including Greece and Turkey, claiming multiple lives.
While Spain has had dozens of wildfires so far this summer, they have yet to prove as deadly as those seen in its European counterparts.
Read more Spain news at the Spanish Eye.
