TENERIFE, Canary Islands, Spain, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Thousands more people were evacuated from their homes on the Spanish island of Tenerife on Saturday as a wildfire raging in the north of the island remained out of control, but the flames have so far avoided major tourist areas.
The Canary Islands emergency services said more than 26,000 people had been evacuated by Saturday afternoon, according to provisional estimates, a sharp rise from 4,500 on Friday.
The fire was at a scale that has never been seen before in the Canary Islands, Tenerife Council President Rosa Davila told reporters.
[1/6]Samuel, 34, uses binoculars in the village of La Victoria, as wildfires rage out of control on the island of Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain August 19, 2023.
In La Victoria, in the north-west of the island, some people who had been evacuated were receiving medical help.
Persons:
Fernando Clavijo, President Rosa Davila, Samuel, Paulina Fernandez, Nacho Doce, Jessica Jones, Clelia
Organizations:
Saturday, President, REUTERS, Reuters, Thomson
Locations:
TENERIFE, Canary Islands, Spain, Tenerife, La Victoria, Europe, Spain's La Palma, Canada, Maui, Lahaina