Thousands of people have been evacuated on Tenerife as firefighters struggle to contain an “out of control” wildfire.
Nearly 4,500 people were ordered to leave villages and camping sites after the fire started on Wednesday.
It has already burned at least 6,425 acres of land.
This is the most complex fire we’ve had in the Canary Islands in the last 40 years,” said the region’s leader, Fernando
Clavijo.
He said it was a race against to bring it under control before temperatures increase at the weekend.
Waterbombing planes have managed to stabilise the fire south of Mount Teide, Spain’s highest peak, but it remained out of control on the northern flank.
Satellite images of Tenerife from 13 and 16 August
“When you go outside you start suffocating. It’s as if you have something stuck in your throat,” said Alba Gil, 37, who lives in the village of La Esperanza.
More than 3,800 people have also been told to stay at home, said civil protection chief Montse Roman, and more evacuations could follow.
The fire follows a heatwave on the islands last week that left many areas tinderbox dry, increasing the wildfire risk.
