The aftermath of the Storm Dorothea in the Canary Islands has resulted in significant incidents, particularly on La Gomera, El Hierro and Tenerife. The Cabildo mobilised an operation involving 150 personnel to address the issues, yet with the dawn, a beach in Tenerife has become populated with individuals eager to take a swim despite advisories against it.
Rosa Dávila, the president of the Cabildo, today reminded that the highest alert remains in effect on the island until 6:00 p.m., at which point the Government of the Canary Islands will reassess the circumstances. She added that it is likely the island will transition to a pre-alert status due to wind, coastal phenomena, fire risk, and the influx of haze.
“We experienced sustained winds ranging from 70-80 km/h, with gusts surpassing 100 km/h, and in certain instances, reaching 130 km/h. We have activated an operation involving more than 150 individuals, and I want to acknowledge the assistance from the local police, Canarian police, and civil protection services of the municipalities,” Dávila stated.
A bustling beach in Tenerife
Notwithstanding these circumstances, Playa Jardín in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, has attracted a considerable number of bathers. It is important to highlight that swimming is not advisable here, particularly given that it was previously closed to the public due to elevated levels of faecal bacteria in the waters.
The northern part of Tenerife has been significantly affected by Storm Dorothea, experiencing landslides, fallen trees, power outages, and two fire incidents in La Victoria and La Orotava.