Two die fighting fires in Alicante as tourists are evacuated from La Gomera
Related articles
Two firefighters have died battling a wildfire in the Spanish province of Alicante.
Meanwhile hundreds were evacuated by boat to escape a fire raging on the Canary Island of La Gomera.
The killer blaze is believed to have started when a car broke down then caught fire after its bonnet was lifted.
It was one of half a dozen raging throughout Spain.
Nearly 1,000 tourists and island residents were evacuated by boat from the western island town of Valle Gran Rey on La Gomera island, next to Tenerife, after fears fires in surrounding hills could engulf the town.
A further 3,000 people were gathered at the port waiting to see how the fire developed.
The Canary Island regional government said nearly 12 square miles, including land in the Garajonay National Park, had been destroyed since the fire began nine days ago. The park contains woodlands that have survived since the Tertiary age, 11 million years ago, and was declared a World Heritage Site in 1986.
The blaze was thought to have been brought under control last week but it rekindled on Friday.
Around 5,000 people were evacuated from other towns on La Gomera and neighbouring Tenerife because of fires over the weekend but were later able to return to their homes.
The Canary Islands are a popular tourism destination, but the fires have not created severe disruptions, said Britain's ABTA travel industry association.
"Resorts have not been affected by the fires, though as a precaution tour operators have suspended some inland excursions on Tenerife," a spokesman said.
Flights have not been affected, though some roads have been closed on La Gomera and some British tourists were offered alternative hotels.
The Canary Island regional government has called on Spain to boost the islands' firefighting capacity. With the island 850 miles from Spain's south-western tip, it can take more than a day for reinforcement planes to be deployed from the mainland.
A dry winter followed by a scorching summer, with temperatures reaching 44 C in southern areas in recent days, has increased the risks of wildfires greatly.
-
That's some guestlist! Stunning images show huge dynastic wedding between Ultra-Orthodox Jewish families which attracted 25,000 guests
-
Emergency landing at Heathrow sparks further controversy over London airport capacity
-
Two bailed after arrest over Woolwich attack Twitter comments
-
Exclusive: Woolwich killings suspect Michael Adebolajo was inspired by cleric banned from UK after urging followers to behead enemies of Islam
-
Men arrested after RAF jet is scrambled to escort Pakistan Airlines passenger plane to London Stansted Airport
- 1 What, let gays get married? We must be bonkers
- 2 'Something passed underneath us, quite close': Airbus A320 has close encounter with UFO
- 3 Rocky Horror star Tim Curry 'suffers major stroke'
- 4 Lord of the Sings: Sir Christopher Lee, 91, to release heavy metal album
- 5 Exclusive: Woolwich killings suspect Michael Adebolajo was inspired by cleric banned from UK after urging followers to behead enemies of Islam
Get your summer started with British Military Fitness
BMF is the UK’s biggest and best loved outdoor fitness classes
Visit York
Find out what The Independent's resident travel expert has to say about one of the most beautiful small cities in the world
Making reading fun for kids
Nook is donating eReaders to volunteers at high-need schools and participating in exclusive events throughout the campaign.
Introducing the 'Get Reading' campaign
Get the latest on The Evening Standard's campaign to get London's children reading.
Enter the latest Independent competitions
Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.
Business videos from commercial thought leaders
Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.
Independent Dating
Day In a Page
The man who's eaten everywhere
A Berliner in 1963 – but did John F Kennedy once admire Adolf Hitler?
Banned Iranian director to attend Cannes Film Festival
The 10 Best salt and pepper sets
Ferran Soriano: Predicting success if Manchester City 'vision' is followed
Edward VIII’s phone calls - and how MI5 bugged them






Comments