SPAIN:More than 13,000 people, many of them tourists, were evacuated yesterday as wildfires swept out of control through the islands of Gran Canaria and Tenerife.
Fires were also reported on the island of La Gomera, although none close to inhabited areas. Only a week ago another conflagration devastated a large area of the national park on La Palma.
The flames, fanned by winds of up to 70km/h, 40 degree temperatures and low humidity, have already destroyed thousands of hectares of forests and hillsides on the three islands. Dramatic satellite pictures show huge plumes of smoke rising from the archipelago.
There were angry scenes after police closed roads to facilitate firefighter access and to prevent people entering danger zones. Some towns and villages are without electricity and water, and others have no radio and phones after overhead cables and aerials were destroyed.
It is feared that many birds and animals perished when flames reached Los Palmitos Zoo in the south of Gran Canaria. The park also contained a valuable butterfly farm and botanical gardens where 65 per cent of the installations have burned.
Many birds, including a condor, toucans, parrots and parakeets, have disappeared, although some could have escaped after keepers opened their cages as the flames approached.
In Gran Canaria more than 10,000 hectares - the equivalent of 10,000 football pitches - have burned.
The fire broke out last weekend when a disgruntled forest ranger whose temporary contract was due to expire in September ignited an area of woodland. He was arrested shortly afterwards, confessed and has been charged with arson.
Fires in Tenerife have devastated an area of 16,000 hectares on 11 separate fronts, the majority to the south and west of the island, and forced the evacuation of about 9,000 people.
Paulino Rivera, president of the autonomous government of the Canary Islands, yesterday called on the government for immediate assistance to fight the blazes.
There are already hundreds of firefighters, professional and volunteers, working round the clock as a dozen helicopters and two hydroplanes drop thousands of tonnes of water on the flames - although on several occasions the helicopters have been forced by strong winds to halt their tasks.
The army's military emergency unit, which was formed at the end of last year to be ready for such emergencies, has rushed units to the islands. In addition to the Canaries, it has been fighting fires in parts of Andalucía and the Valencia region.
Cristina Narbona, the environment minister, flew to the Canaries yesterday. She described the situation as critical and has ordered further reinforcements.
One hundred and fifty soldiers arrived yesterday afternoon in a military Hercules aircraft and two more large-capacity helicopters are expected shortly.