In anticipation of significant snowfall in the Teide National Park which would, as always, lead to a large influx of people and vehicles, the Tenerife Cabildo has prepared the municipalities of La Orotava, El Rosario, and Vilaflor to coordinate future deployments of their security plan.
Iván Martín, the insular director of Security and Emergencies, has held several meetings with representatives of the above municipalities to address the situation in the event of activating this operational plan.
"We are assessing potential scenarios in case we need to deploy it, and in La Orotava, we have already agreed with the municipality to use the bus station as the central point of the operation," specified Martín in statements provided by the Tenerife Cabildo.
Currently, construction work is underway in the El Rosario area where vehicles are usually stationed, prompting the Cabildo to explore alternatives with the municipality.
"Operativo Nevadas" (Operation Snowfall) is a Civil Protection Plan designed by the Cabildo in anticipation of substantial snow, leading to a high influx of visitors to Teide National Park and surrounding areas of the forestal region. Broadly, this operation is defined as a dynamic access regulation system during peak days to ensure visits to these protected natural spaces occur under safe conditions.
Martín explains that the objectives are to minimize risks associated with snow at Tenerife's summits, guarantee road safety on the island's TF-21, TF-24, and TF-38 roads, and raise awareness about potential risks and recommendations for the public during snowy days.
Furthermore, "the aim is to ensure the safety and quality of the visit for people and regulate access in an orderly manner consistent with the conservation of protected natural spaces," says Martín, who emphasizes that this measure aims to encourage the use of public transport as an alternative to private vehicles.
