Madrid, (UNI) The area of a natural fire raging on the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands, Tenerife, has exceeded 3,200 hectares (7,907 acres) and continues to spread, affecting Arafo, Candelaria, El Rosario, Tacoronte and other municipalities, the Canary Islands’ government said.
“As of 20:00 Thursday, the fire area reached 3,273 hectares on a perimeter of 40 kilometers [24.8 miles], covering the municipalities of Arafo, Candelaria, El Rosario, La Orotava, Santa Ursula, La Victoria de Acentejo, El Sauzal and Tacoronte,” the government said in a statement.
Canary Islands President Fernando Clavijo said on Thursday that the forest fire on Tenerife was out of control and had spread to more than 1.8 hectares, adding that some 270 firefighters were battling the blaze. On Wednesday, local authorities announced the start of the evacuation of several villages on the island.
In late July, media reported that the fires had affected over 400 hectares of forest on the island of Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands.
