The forest fire in Tenerife has already affected 8,400 hectares, has a perimeter of 70 kilometers with a large front in the north of the island and, according to official figures, forced the evacuation of more than 12,000 people.
The fire forced the evacuation of 12,279 people, down from the 26,000 originally put forward and in line with preliminary estimates, according to figures released on Saturday by Canary Islands President Fernando Clavijo.
Atmospheric conditions suggest a heavy night, but thanks to the work of air and ground forces, 90% of the perimeter of the southern front of fire remained stable, Clavijo said.
On the other hand, in the northern zone the situation is more complicated and only 20% of the surface is stabilized.
The fire potential is huge, he said, and reinforcements of 151 firefighters will be deployed in the evacuated areas at night to protect homes.
Clavijo appreciated the number of people who volunteered to help, but warned that this was a large-scale fire that only qualified specialists could deal with, so he asked that no spontaneous or reckless actions be allowed.
On Saturday, there were 19 aircraft on the ground, and on Sunday there will be 22.
Municipality head Rosa Davila said it was a devastating fire that had hit Tenerife’s forest canopy and warned that the night could be “very long and difficult”.
Since the start of the fire, the authorities have already evacuated several regions located in 11 municipalities in the south and north of Tenerife, according to the news agency Efe.
The government added that people in need of housing are referred to various shelters.
The fire, which has been raging since Tuesday, has forced the evacuation of several villages.
Civil Protection said the evacuation of settlements will continue this Sunday as a precautionary measure and advised people to take self-defense measures.
The air device continues to drop water, having fired more than 1,700 times since the start of the fire.
According to Spanish authorities, the fire is far from being extinguished, and intense heat, strong winds and adverse terrain make it difficult to control the flames, which have spread to the northern part of the island.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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