The Tenerife Tourism Corporation has said that, thanks to an improvement in weather conditions, the evolution of the fires has been more favourable than expected with life continuing as normal in the island’s main cities of Santa Cruz and La Laguna as well as at beach hotspots of Arona, Puerto de la Cruz and San Miguel de Abona.
“The island therefore remains an entirely safe destination at the current time, both for residents and for those tourists visiting us or who are planning to do so,” the tourism body said while adding that operations at Tenerife’s ports and airports were “continuing as normal”. Nevertheless, access to the Mount Teide volcano, where the fires broke out last week, remained closed.
Over the past few hours firefighters have been working to keep the flames contained to the Observatorio del Teide area, 10km away from Santa Cruz, while limiting the impact on the northern town of Los Realejos.
Authorities suspect the fires, which governor Rosa Davila told a news conference have already resulted in more than 12,000 people being evacuated, were started deliberately.
According to several national media reports, police have opened an investigation into the fires, but it remains unclear whether any arrests have been made.
Believed to be the island’s worst for 40 years, the fires have so far affected northeastern areas of the island such as Santa Ursula, La Victoria and El Rosario, which are usually less frequented by tourists.
It is the latest in a string of vicious wildfires this year, forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate. These included Rhodes and southern Italy, as well as France, other areas of the Mediterranean and also Hawaii.
