Follow the latest news about the fires live
SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, July 23. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The forest fire that broke out last Thursday on the island of Tenerife, which affects the municipalities of Los Realejos, San Juan de la Rambla, La Guancha and Icod de los Vinos, has improved its situation throughout today, although there is concern that it could reach La Orotava, where there are more populated areas.
The president of the Canary Islands, Ángel Víctor Torres, has told the media after going to the Advanced Command Post (PMA) that the condition during the day has perhaps been better than expected due to the increase in humidity and that there have been winds below 30 km/h, although the intense heat continues to play against it.
The president has indicated that what worries him the most is that the fire could spread towards La Orotava, which is where there are more populated areas. However, he clarified that the fire is not advancing as fast as the one registered in 2007, which spread rapidly due to the fact that winds of up to 70 km / h were registered at that time.
In this sense, Ángel Víctor Torres pointed out that there is a forecast that the weather will worsen from Sunday to Monday night, so “we have to take advantage of these hours” to try to contain the fire thanks to the work being carried out by more than 150 effective, to which all the bodies and security forces are added.
Likewise, Torres reported that there are thirteen air assets that are currently “working intensely”, including a seaplane that has arrived today and is already operating and another that will arrive in the next few hours, which this morning has requested personally to the Minister for the Ecological Transition, Teresa Ribera.
The head of the Canarian Executive wanted to remember that there are around 60 homes that have been preventively evacuated in the municipalities of Los Realejos and La Orotava, although at the moment the number of those affected is unknown, who have been rehoused in family homes and friends. However, the Las Llanadas Sports Center has been set up as a provisional meeting point for the relocation of the affected people.
On the other hand, Ángel Víctor Torres has also asked for a lot of caution, especially after having detected several people of foreign origin who were hiking. In addition, several roads have been cut, including the TF-21, which connects La Orotava with El Portillo, in the Teide National Park.
