Thousands evacuated as wildfire on Spain

F irefighters on Thursday struggled to contain a wildfire that broke out in a mountainous national park on the Spanish island of Tenerife, prompting authorities to evacuate some 3,800 people.
The fire’s perimeter expanded to 31 kilometres across dry woodland covering both flanks of steep ravines near the Mount Teide volcano – Spain’s highest peak – hampering access to the area and covering much of the island with smoke clouds and ash.
The fire, which broke out on Wednesday, has burned through 2,600 hectares of land.
The region’s leader, Fernando Clavijo, told a news conference, “The night has been very tough…This is the most complex fire we’ve had in the Canary Islands in the last 40 years.”
Pedro Martinez, head of emergency services in Tenerife, said the fire had spread to the north and towards a valley where several camping sites are located.
While some villages were evacuated out of precaution, residents in a few others were ordered to stay home, affecting a further 3,500 people.