A massive fire on the holiday island of Gran Canaria has forced 1,000 people to flee their homes as “overwhelmed” firefighters try to contain the inferno.
More troops were being called in to fight the out-of-control blaze in the mountains, which flared up on Sunday morning and has ripped through 1,000 hectares on the summit.
Huge plumes of smoke can be seen from all parts of the volcanic island – a popular destination for Britons – and from Tenerife, and they were also seen in satellite images taken from space.
A 55-year-old Spanish man has been arrested on suspicion of reckless behaviour for allegedly starting the fire while using welding machinery on open land near his house.
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Last night, the emergency had been downgraded to level 2 after firefighters believed they had got it under some sort of control but extra air help has now been called in.
But it flared up again on Sunday morning, forcing hundreds of people to flee their homes and leaving firefighters scrambling to contain it.
The Gran Canaria fire brigade tweeted: “We are overwhelmed by the situation.
(Image: ELVIRA URQUIJO A/EPA-EFE/REX)
“We continue working and fighting for our island!!!”
The fire was still burning out of control at midday, said the president of the Canary Islands, Angel Victor Torres.
At a press conference, he confirmed 1,000 residents have been evacuated from a dozen districts of the municipalities of Tejeda, Artenara and Gáldar.
The fire has already affected more than 1,000 hectares.
Displaced residents spent the night in emergency shelters at municipal buildings such as sports centres, schools and community halls.
At least one campsite has been evacuated due to the blaze which broke out while Gran Canaria was at high risk of forest fires.
Margarita, a local woman who was forced to flee the village of La Culata, said she, like other residents, doesn’t know if her home has been damaged or consumed by the fire.
Desperate for updates, she told Cope: “We know nothing. We have no information of any kind. Here we are waiting to find out.”
(Image: ELVIRA URQUIJO A/EPA-EFE/REX)
Nine helicopters and a plane are being used to dump water on the inferno.
A seaplane had left Malaga to join the effort.
More than 100 troops were drafted in to battle the blaze and 30 reinforcements from the Military Emergency Unit were brought in overnight, local media reported.
Flames lit up the night sky as crowds gathered to watching the fire on the mountainside.
In daylight, the smoke was clearly visible from the air from all parts of the island and from Tenerife.
The fire started in Artenara, which is in the western part of Gran Canaria in the mountains and about 20 miles from the capital of Las Palmas, at about midday on Saturday.
According to bulletins, the fire spread rapidly through the summit on but there were hopes it was being brought under control on Saturday night.
On Sunday morning, the island’s council tweeted: “During the morning, 10 air means will be incorporated into the #IFArtenara extinction tasks at the #GRANCANARIA summit.
“9 helicopters from different Administrations (State, Government and Cabildo) and an airplane will participate.”
The districts of Las Peñas, El Tablado, El Rincón, Juan Fernández, La Culata, Peña Rajada, Las Arbejas and Las Crucitas are all affected.
Gran Canaria is a popular destination for thousands of British holidaymakers every summer.
Home to almost 850,000 people, it is the second most populous of Spain’s Canary Islands, an Atlantic archipelago off the coast of Northwest Africa.
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