Spanish authorities said on Sunday more favourable weather conditions have helped firefighters slow down the advance of a wildfire on La Palma in Spain’s Canary Islands that has forced the evacuation of more than 4,000 residents. Firefighters were trying to contain a wildfire which burned out of control and forced the evacuation of at least 4,000 people on the Spanish island of La Palma, authorities said on Sunday.
The fire on La Palma started in the early hours of Saturday in El Pinar de Puntagorda, a wooded area in the north of the island, necessitating the evacuation of people from the villages of Puntagorda and neighbouring Tijarafe.
Cerberus heatwave. The fire has already destroyed 4,500 hectares of land and a dozen homes in Palma
Officials have said that around 4,255 have been evacuated from the Spanish island, but also said that others were refusing to leave their homes. Around 400 troops have been brought in to take the blaze with more soldiers leaving Morón Air Base this morning to help control the blaze.
The fire coincides with a heatwave that is hitting southern Europe.
Temperatures in the Canary Islands, located off the north-west coast of Africa, soared last week as Spain experienced a second summer heat wave.
The weather has cooled a little since Friday but the country is expected to suffer another heat wave this week.
The drought has left the wooded, hilly terrain tinder-dry.
The wildfire and evacuations come nearly two years after a three-month volcanic eruption caused devastation on La Palma. While nobody was killed, around 3,000 buildings were buried along with many banana plantations, roads and irrigation systems.
 Read more
Rory McIlroy edges out Robert MacIntyre with 18th-hole birdie in Scottish Open
The Fashion icon and the inspiration behind Hermès Birkin bags Jane Birkin dies at 76
Sarah H
Also on site :