BFF-21 More evacuations as Canary Islands fire out of control

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ZCZC

BFF-21

SPAIN-FIRE

More evacuations as Canary Islands fire out of control

MONTANA ALTA, Spain, Aug 19, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – A wildfire raged out of
control on the Spanish island of Gran Canaria Monday, forcing more
evacuations as flames in some parts rose so high even water-dropping planes
were unable to operate, authorities said.

The fire, which is devouring the mountainous centre of the holiday island
popular for its breathtaking views, has forced the evacuation of several
villages, which according to the census have a combined population of 8,000,
a spokeswoman for emergency services said.

The exact number of evacuees was unclear. No fatalities have been
reported.

So fierce is the fire in what is a UNESCO biosphere reserve that in some
areas, it “is beyond our extinction capacities,” Federico Grillo, head of
emergency services in Gran Canaria, said late Sunday.

On the northwestern flank of the blaze, flames have risen as high as 50
metres (160 feet), preventing ground crew from getting near or water-dropping
aircraft from flying above.

“It’s a really bad situation,” Grillo said.

More than 700 firefighters and other ground crew and 14 water-dropping
helicopters and planes were working on bringing the blaze under control on
Monday.

With the temperature set to rise, authorities estimate it could take days
before the blaze is brought under control.

The fire broke out days after another wildfire in the same region forced
the evacuation of hundreds.

Gran Canaria is the second most populous of the Canary Islands in the
Atlantic off the northwest coast of Africa.

The archipelago received 13.7 million foreign visitors last year, over
half of them from Britain and Germany.

In Gran Canaria, tourists tend to stay in beach resorts and not so much in
the mountainous centre. In a statement, the government of the Canary Islands
said the tourism industry on the island remained unaffected “given that the
fire is confined to upland parts,” “with no resorts suffering effects” and no
flight delays.

BSS/AFP/FI/ 1530 hrs