The General Directorate of Emergencies of the Government of the Canary Islandsbased on Special Plan for Civil Protection and Emergency Response for Forest Fires of the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands(INFOCA)has decreed maximum alert due to the risk of forest fires in the four western islands and Gran Canaria.
Specifically, the measure affects the islands of The iron, La Gomeraat a height greater than 400 meters, The Palm, Tenerifein the risk zone established by the Cabildo – except the area affected by the Arafo forest fire that remains in an Emergency Situation – and Gran Canaria, above 400 meters in the southern zone and elevation 200 in the zone north.
Likewise, the Department of Health of the Government of the Canary Islands, through the General Directorate of Public Health, has updated the issuance of notices and has placed the municipalities of Mogan, San Bartolome de Tirajana, The Village of San Nicolás and Santa Lucía de Tirajanain Gran Canaria, and San Bartolomé, in Lanzarote.
In addition, the municipalities of Adeje and Candelaria (Tenerife) remain on orange notice. Valsequillo (Gran Canaria) and Yaiza (Lanzarote) and in yellow Arico, Güímar, La Laguna and Tegueste (Tenerife), Agaete, Agüimes, Arucas, Firgas, The Gran Canarian palms, Santa María de Guía, Telde and Terror (Gran Canaria), Haría, Tinajo and Tías (Lanzarote), Tuineje (Fuerteventura) and Vallehermoso and Valle Gran Rey (La Gomera).
Health risk warnings
The Ministry of Health of the Government of the Canary Islands has issued health risk warnings due to high temperatures in Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Tenerife and La Gomera.
Vulnerability to high temperatures includes personal risk factors such as being over 65 years of age, lactating or pregnant, and there are also environmental, local and work-related reasons.
The Ministry of Health gives a decalogue of recommendations, including staying as long as possible in cool, shaded or air-conditioned places, and cooling off whenever necessary, as well as reducing physical activity and avoiding practicing sports outdoors in the middle hours of the day.
It also recommends drinking water or liquids frequently, even if you do not feel thirsty and regardless of the physical activity you perform, in addition to avoiding drinks with caffeine, alcohol or very sugary drinks, as they can promote dehydration.
Another recommendation is to pay special attention to babies, minors, pregnant or lactating women, as well as older people or people with diseases that can be aggravated by heat (such as heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, cancer, pathologies that make mobility difficult. , dementia and other mental illnesses, as well as drug or alcohol abuse), although anyone can suffer from a heat-related problem.
In addition, it is recommended to wear light, loose, breathable clothing, not leave anyone in a parked and closed vehicle (especially minors, elderly people or people with chronic illnesses), and consult a health professional if symptoms persist. more than an hour and that may be related to high temperatures.
Likewise, it is recommended to eat light meals that help replace the salts lost through sweat, and keep medicines in a cool place; Heat can alter its composition and effects.
By island, in Tenerife there is an orange warning until October 11 in Adeje and Candelaria, and a yellow warning until that day in Arico, Güímar, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, and Tegueste.
In Gran Canaria, red notice until October 11 in Mogán, San Bartolomé de Tirajana, La Aldea de San Nicolás and Santa Lucía de Tirajana, and orange until October 10 in Valsequillo.
In addition, orange notice until October 11 in Agaete, Agüimes, Arucas, Firgas, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Santa María de Guía, Telde and Teror.
In Lanzarote, a red warning until October 11 in San Bartolomé and orange in Yaiza, while the warning is yellow until this Monday, October 9, in Haría, and until October 11 in Tinajo and Tías.
In Fuerteventura, yellow warning until this Monday, October 9, in Betancuria, and until October 11 in Tuineje.
And in La Gomera yellow notice until October 11 in Vallehermoso and Valle Gran Rey.
The temperature thresholds established in the Preventive Action Plan for the Effects of Excess Temperatures on Health in 2023 are 33 degrees Celsius for the province of Las Palmasand 34 degrees Celsius for the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
The criteria for assigning health risk levels for situations of excess temperature, determined by the Ministry of Health, is based on a decision algorithm.
Based on this algorithm, based on the expected maximum temperatures, the established threshold, the number of days of persistence, which is specified as a minimum of three, and the risk factors of each territory, four risk levels are determined:
◦ Level 0 (green), no risk.
◦ Level 1 (yellow), low risk.
◦ Level 2 (orange), medium risk.
◦ Level 3 (red), high risk.
