Is it safe to travel to Tenerife after latest wildfires? Travel information after 3,000 are evacuated overnight
Is it safe to travel to Tenerife after the latest forest fires? Travel information after 3,000 will be evacuated at night
- About 3,000 people were evacuated on the night of another outbreak
- The Spanish island experienced its worst fires in decades in August
- Where are the fires? And is it safe to travel to Tenerife?
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After 3,000 people were evacuated from their homes in Tenerife on October 4 and 5, another European holiday destination was hit by potential travel chaos.
The Spanish island was hit by the worst forest fires in decades in August. Although these were under control, they were never completely extinguished.
The latest outbreak has had only a fraction of the impact of the summer on 30 hectares (70 acres) but will still leave potential tourists wondering whether it is wise to make the trip to the Canary Islands.
Where are the fires? And is it safe to travel to Tenerife? Read the answers below.
About 3,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes overnight as another forest fire swept through parts of Tenerife.
After one night, an area of ββjust 30 hectares (70 acres) was affected as firefighters fought to control the fire
The 30 hectares β much less than the 14,000 hectares in August β affected are around the towns of Santa Ursula and La Orotava.
Where are the forest fires in Tenerife?
The 30 hectares affected by the fire are around the towns of Santa Ursula and La Orotava.
The August fires also occurred in this area, but spread much further, destroying 14,000 hectares of pine forest and scrubland, forcing 12,000 people from their homes for weeks.
And there are fears the latest outbreak could spread to that extent, due to the island’s years of drought and unusually high temperatures in October.
Changing winds that are forecast also make the potential developments of the situation less predictable.
Is it safe to travel to Tenerife?
One of the most popular parts of Tenerife among tourists β Puerto de la Cruz β is located about 5 kilometers from the site of the recent forest fires.
However, the UK government has not updated its travel advice for Spain in light of the fire, as there are no international travel restrictions in place.
None of Tenerife’s airports, the north of which is closer to the fires, were delayed as a result of the fires.
Management of the situation has already been taken over by the Government of the Canary Islands, with hundreds of firefighters and soldiers deployed to tackle the fire and extinguish it the day after it broke out, with helicopters also available on site if necessary .
On October 5, a helicopter flies over the area of ββLa Corujera, after the wildfire broke out the night before
What should I do if my flight is cancelled?
If your flight is unexpectedly cancelled, there are various options.
You are legally entitled to a full refund, which extends to other airline flights that you cannot use and that are made in the same booking, such as a return flight.
You can also opt for an alternative flight to take you to your destination.
If you are delayed by at least two hours due to a flight cancellation, you are entitled to assistance with costs such as an overnight stay at the airport.
Likewise, you are legally entitled to compensation if the alternative flight offered to you has delayed you by two hours or more and you have given less than two weeks’ notice.