A deliberately lit forest fire is wreaking havoc on the picturesque island of Tenerife. Since it broke out on Wednesday, more than 12,000 residents have been forced to flee their homes as the blaze engulfs towns and villages in the northeast. The regional president of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, revealed that authorities suspect arson, and launched three separate investigations. However, no arrests have been reported so far.
The situation has prompted the deployment of hundreds of firefighters and soldiers, and recent weather improvements aided their progress on Sunday.
Despite enduring a difficult night, Governor Rosa Davila confirmed that emergency services achieved some favorable results. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but the poor air quality has prompted people to stay indoors and wear masks when going outside.
Although no homes have yet been lost, large tracts of pine forest and scrubland covering 29,000 hectares have succumbed to the flames. The rugged mountainous terrain around certain towns has complicated firefighting efforts. Helicopters and planes carrying water are providing much-needed assistance, but prolonged drought conditions in the Canary Islands have exacerbated the crisis as a result of changes in climate patterns caused by global warming.
As Tenerife battles the inferno, mainland Spain is bracing for a multi-day heatwave, with temperatures expected to top 40°C (104°F) by midweek, marking Wednesday and Thursday as the peak of the scorching climb.
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