An uncontrolled fire ravages the Spanish island of Gran Canaria

Several municipalities were evacuated without the authorities being able to indicate the precise number of people concerned. No victims were reported.

The fire on the Spanish island of Gran Canaria was out of control on Monday, August 19. It « is beyond our capacity to extinguish, » Federico Grillo, head of the island’s emergency services, told reporters on Sunday night.

The flames reached a height of 50 metres in places, preventing the 700 or so mobilized firefighters from tackling them, even with airborne means.

Declared on Saturday in the town of Valleseco, in the centre of the island, the fire spread over 3,400 hectares on Monday morning, announced the emergency services.

Several municipalities, with a total population of 8,000 inhabitants, were evacuated, they added, without being able to indicate the precise number of people concerned.