This Sunday, the Tenerife Cabildo evacuated another 28 individuals who had accessed the upper station of the Teide Cable Car “recklessly” and in spite of the adverse weather conditions. They have urged the public to refrain from going to the peak.
The insular Corporation, which had previously evacuated another 77 individuals in a similar situation on Saturday, some suffering from altitude sickness after hiking up the mountain, reminded in a statement that the Government of the Canary Islands had declared a pre-alert situation for rain and storms across all islands, effective from 2:00 p.m. on Friday, 15 November.
This decision was made based on information supplied by the State Meteorological Agency, which issued yellow warnings for heavy rainfall in certain areas of the archipelago, alongside other available resources. This was undertaken in accordance with the Specific Emergency Plan of the Canary Islands regarding Risks of Adverse Meteorological Phenomena (PEFMA).
The evacuated group had made their way to the upper area of Teide on foot, as the cable car was not operating due to poor weather conditions. They activated the SOS button emergency system, which is connected to the 1-1-2 service of the Government of the Canary Islands.
After contacting those responsible for the Teide Cable Car, who confirmed that the weather conditions permitted a temporary operation, these 28 individuals were subsequently evacuated.
The Minister of Natural Environment, Sustainability, Security, and Emergencies of the Tenerife Council, Blanca Pérez, highlighted that such actions are “reckless, endangering not only personal safety but also that of emergency responders.”
“This is an act of irresponsibility, and we urge the public not to venture into the upper part of Teide due to the prevailing adverse weather conditions,” she reiterated.
Pérez also reminded that this is a high-altitude area, where temperatures as low as -5 degrees have been recorded, along with frost conditions and a risk of heavy or very heavy rainfall.
