SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, Aug. 21 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Government of the Canary Islands maintains the declaration of risk due to very unfavorable air quality in a large part of the island of Tenerife due to the smoke from the forest fire that has affected the island territory since the night of August 15.
Specifically, they indicate that the air quality is very unfavorable, especially in the municipalities of Los Realejos, La Orotava and Arafo, as well as on the northern slope of the municipalities of Los Realejos, El Sauzal, La Matanza de Acentejo, La Victoria de Acentejo , Santa Úrsula, La Orotava, Puerto de la Cruz, Los Realejos, Buenavista del Norte, Los Silos, Garachico, Icod de los Vinos, La Guancha and San Juan de la Rambla.
Likewise, and as reported by the Canarian Government in a statement, air quality also affects the southern slope in the municipalities of Arafo, Candelaria, Güímar, Fasnia and Arico.
This risk is declared because the smoke from forest fires is made up of a mixture of gases and small particles that are emitted by the combustion of vegetation and other materials, and may affect sensitive populations/risk groups such as people with respiratory diseases or previous cardiac diseases such as asthma, chronic bronchitis and emphysema, as well as children, pregnant women and the elderly.
It can also affect people who perform intense physical activity, as well as those with reduced mobility.
The symptoms that may occur are coughing, irritation of the eyes, nose or throat, as well as difficulty breathing deeply, chest discomfort, palpitations, fatigue, as well as aggravation of symptoms in people with previous respiratory or cardiac diseases.
Therefore, they recommend to avoid staying outside and carrying out intense or prolonged physical activities, close doors, windows, if you have air conditioning, put it in recirculation mode and with clean filters.
Outside, the use of an FFP2 mask is recommended to avoid respiratory problems and to protect the eyes as much as possible, as well as washing them if necessary.
In any case, it is requested to be attentive to the instructions they receive from the civil protection authorities, calling the emergency number of the Government of the Canary Islands at 112 if necessary and for inquiries at 012.
