Approximately 1,000 people have been evacuated due to massive wildfires in Gran Canaria, the second-most populous island of the Canary archipelago off the Atlantic coast of Africa, local authorities confirmed on Sunday.
"The President [of the Canary Islands Angel Victor Torres] confirmed that 1,000 people remain evacuated from different neighbourhoods of the municipalities of Artenara, Tejeda and Galdar. [The residents] will not be able to return to their homes because the risk remains high", a statement, released by the Gran Canaria government, said.
People are still being evacuated in Artenara, Tejeda and Galdar municipalities, according to the Canary Islands' emergency services.
— Cabildo Gran Canaria (@GranCanariaCab) August 10, 2019
Thousand hectares of land were affected by the inferno. 10 aircraft were deployed to contain the blaze, but the fire is continuing to rage.
— @Bomberos LPGC (@BomberosLPGC) August 11, 2019
— Carreteras GC (@CarreterasGC) August 11, 2019
Local civil guards detained a 55-year-old man on Saturday suspected of starting the fire by negligent use of a welding machine.
