Tourists warned as wildfires threaten to ruin Spanish holiday hotspot this summer
By ALEX DOYLE
Tourists have been warned as Spanish authorities issue a wildfire alert for a holiday hotspot this summer.
A pre-alert has been issued for the Canary Islands, just as thousands of Brits prepare to fly to the archipelago.
The General Directorate of Emergencies issued the warning, which extends to Tenerife, Grand Canaria, La Palma, La Gomera and EI Heirro.
It comes after the island's wet season, with dry and hot winds starting to blow in from the Sahara Desert, known as ‘calima’.
The alert is in place until further notice, as authorities urged residents and tourists to heighten their vigilance.
Wildfires often occur during the summer months in Spain and neighbouring Portugal.
However, in October 2017 the two countries suffered hundreds of large blazes that claimed the lives of 45 people in Portugal and four in Spain.
In August 2023, some 12,000 were evacuated from Tenerife as 'out of control' wildfires ravaged the island.
A pre-wildfire alert has been issued for the Canary Islands, just as thousands of Brits prepare to fly to the archipelago
General Directorate of Emergencies issued the warning, which extends to Tenerife, Grand Canaria, La Palma, La Gomera and EI Heirro
It comes after the island's wet season, with dry and hot winds starting to blow in from the Sahara Desert, known as ‘calima’
Spain's tourism sector has already been dealt a blow over rising anti-tourism protests ahead of the busy season.
Last month the latest demonstration saw fed-up locals take to the streets to hit back at what they call 'excessive' tourism.
Under the slogan 'Canarias tiene un limite' (The Canaries has a limit), the demonstrators gathered on the islands of Tenerife, La Gomera, Gran Canaria, El Hierro, Lanzarote and La Palma.
Activists want to limit the number of tourists visiting the islands, ban new hotel construction and introduce a tougher tourist tax, among other measures.
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