The fires that broke out on the island of Tenerife have significantly impacted around 8 natural reserves in the area, among them the renowned Teide National Park, which stands as one of the most important natural conservation areas in Spain. The flames have wrought substantial harm to the island’s natural heritage, affecting its fauna, flora, and the pristine landscapes of numerous protected zones.
According to the Spanish newspaper “La Vanguardia”, the fires engulfed about 11,612 hectares on the Tenerife island, impacting 11 municipalities in the process. This dire situation led to the evacuation of more than 12,000 individuals. Teide National Park is among Spain’s most beloved tourist destinations and is the largest natural park in the country.
As per the latest data, the number of evacuees has reached 12,279. It has been reported that Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, is scheduled to visit Tenerife on Monday, following the wildfires that have been raging since August 15th.
Local authorities in Spain have announced that the nation is grappling with the worst forest fire wave in its history. The potent combination of strong winds and soaring temperatures has made the firefighter’s task exceedingly challenging to control and extinguish the fires on the Tenerife island, part of the Canary Islands.
Fernando Clavijo, the President of the Canary Islands’ government, stated at the onset of the fires that the wildfires had consumed approximately 5,000 hectares of natural areas in Tenerife, equivalent to around 7,000 football fields.
In a recent report, Moody’s rating agency cautioned that increasing temperatures and forest fires might render southern Europe less attractive as a long-term travel destination. Predictions based on climate models suggest that coastal regions might see a significant drop in tourist appeal due to these rising temperatures, while northern countries could become more enticing.
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