Hundreds are forced to flee their homes in Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria inferno: Hundreds flee wildfire on holiday island as firefighters admit they are ‘overwhelmed’ by the massive blaze

  • Fire, which broke out in the mountains, has destroyed 900 hectares on summit
  • Authorities HAVE confirmed more troops are being called in to fight the blaze 
  • The fire is believed to have been started by a man using a soldering iron 

Hundreds of people are being evacuated from their homes in the holiday island of Gran Canaria after large plumes of black smoke erupted in the mountains.

The fire, which has left firefighters ‘overwhelmed’, threatened to spiral out of control yesterday and has sprung up again this morning, destroying  900 hectares on the summit.  

Authorities have confirmed more troops are being rushed in to fight the ferocious blaze which is believed to have been started by a welder using a soldering iron at a house.

55-year-old man has now been arrested by the Civil Guard.

Mass evacuations are being carried out on the holiday island of Gran Canaria after fire erupted on the mountains

The ferocious fire, which has left firefighters 'overwhelmed', has already destroyed 900 hectares of the summit

The ferocious fire, which has left firefighters ‘overwhelmed’, has already destroyed 900 hectares of the summit

Last night, the emergency had been downgraded to level 2 after firefighters believed they had got it under some sort of control but extra air help has now been called in.

In the last hours, Gran Canaria fire brigade has tweeted: ‘We are overwhelmed by the situation. We continue working and fighting for our island !!!’ 

Numerous villages have been evacuated and residents spent the night in municipal buildings such as sports centres, schools and community halls. 

The municipalities of Tejeda, Artenara and Gáldar are among the locations where people were told to leave their homes with the districts of Las Peñas, El Tablado, El Rincón, Juan Fernández, La Culata, Peña Rajada, Las Arbejas and Las Crucitas all affected. 

Authorities on the island have confirmed more troops are being rushed in to fight the fire

Authorities on the island have confirmed more troops are being rushed in to fight the fire

The blaze is believed to have been started by a welder using a soldering iron at a house and a 55-year-old man has now been arrested

The blaze is believed to have been started by a welder using a soldering iron at a house and a 55-year-old man has now been arrested

At least one campsite has been evacuated and the smoke is clearly visible from the air from all parts of the island and from Tenerife.

The fire started in Artenara which is in the western part of Gran Canaria in the mountains and about 20 miles from the capital of Las Palmas.

According to bulletins, the fire spread rapidly through the summit last night but there were hopes it was being brought under control.

This morning, the island’s council tweeted: ‘During the morning, 10 air means will be incorporated into the #IFArtenara extinction tasks at the #GRANCANARIA summit. 9 helicopters from different Administrations (State, Government and Cabildo) and an airplane will participate.’ 

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