It is certainly not the first occurrence of multiple containers being set ablaze in a capital like Santa Cruz de Tenerife due to acts of vandalism, yet nothing quite like yesterday has been recalled, when a widespread assault on the city’s street amenities led to at least 12 deliberate fires being ignited across various urban thoroughfares, resulting in a truly distressing day for emergency services that commenced at dawn and extended past midday.
At this point, it remains impractical to provide a precise evaluation of the damage, considering the affected containers belong to various companies. However, beyond the implications such an assault has on the communal life of all Santacruceros, we should particularly acknowledge the two immediate victims of this significant attack: the two residents who realised in the early hours of yesterday morning that their vehicles had suffered damage, with one of them being completely consumed by fire. The intervention of firefighters and the Local Police prevented further calamities, but due to the severity of the incident, we urge anyone who may have information to assist the authorities in identifying those responsible.
The series of events clearly indicates that yesterday was anything but ordinary. Just during the early morning hours, the vandals had initiated a chain of fires at as many as seven distinct locations within Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
As is typical in such instances, the concentration of containers meant for refuse disposal was the preferred target for these offenders, who inflicted damage on Avenida de Venezuela, Calle de Turina, Subida a la Cuesta Piedra, Calle de Simón Bolívar, Estanislao Brotons Poveda street, Elías Bacallado street, and Domingo Pisaca Burgada street.
These incidents not only sparked understandable concern among residents who had their peace disrupted by flames outside their homes, but they also resulted in the aforementioned damage to vehicles, marking a significantly relevant occurrence. Even by dawn, the impact was considerable, with at least 16 containers of various types burned: five designated for municipal solid waste, four for packaging, and two for paper/cardboard, all managed by Valoriza, whose management estimated the damages to exceed 14,500 euros. Additionally, four glass containers and another for textile collection were also set ablaze.
In this context, we must commend the efforts of local firefighters and police, as well as employees of Valoriza and even municipal crane operators, whose prompt actions halted three more attempts from escalating, highlighting the intensity of those early morning hours in Santa Cruz. However, what no one envisioned was that the turmoil would persist even after dawn. While the account of the events was still unfolding and the clock had already passed one in the afternoon, the vandals struck again, igniting five more containers on Ángel Romero Avenue, the Santa Cruz-La Laguna highway (TF-180), and once more on the Cuesta Piedra, albeit in a different area than that targeted during the night.
Once again, local firefighters and police exerted significant effort to avert additional destruction, unaware that, just half an hour later, the peak of this widespread vandalism would materialise with two more deliberate fires, now on Belgium Avenue near the Brujas Building and Valle Inclán street.
Regarding the individuals accountable for these attacks, sources connected to the investigation speculate that the perpetrators may be the same, and that the extensive and perilous nature of the assault is being taken with utmost seriousness, to the extent that it must be emphasised – residents are encouraged to provide any relevant information concerning this matter.
Regardless, in Spain, such acts of vandalism have faced significantly harsher repercussions than a mere monetary fine for quite some time. A notable case this year from the Court of Pontevedra resulted in a three-year prison sentence for an individual from Arousa who, in 2021, set several containers ablaze in Cambados. The more containers involved, the stiffer the punishment, and for those hoping for leniency, intoxication was dismissed as a mitigating circumstance in criminal liability.
