The latest updates for the situation of the fire in Tenerife is that the heat and 65km/h winds have spread the fire more quickly again, and it now covers 8,400 hectares, which is 20,750 acres or 84 million square metres, while it continues to burn out of control in the pine forests in the north of the island.
The perimeter of the fire has now grown to 70 kilometres, but there has been some "good news" regarding the southern front, where the fire began, as last night firefighters declared 90% of it to be stabilised. However, the main concern is on the northern front which is in very steep inaccessible terrain, and only 20% of the fire is anywhere near being controlled.
There is now concern about the poor air quality in some areas due to the continued increase in the amount of smoke it is creating, and the fact that possible rains are expected today.
There has also been an update on the amount of people evicted from their homes as the emergency services released the wrong figures. They meant to inform last night (Saturday) that an additional 2,600 people had been evacuated, not a total of 26,000 people. This means that more than 12,200 people have been evacuated as the priority above all else is people’s safety, with many of them sleeping in sport centres set up by the Red Cross.
So far, no one has been injured or killed in the fire, including those fighting it on the front line, and today some 500 troops and firefighters plus 23 planes and helicopters will continue with the relentless task of trying to get this fire under control.
