Tenerife has been hit by devastating forest fires, and a large-scale evacuation is underway from the Canary Islands. These fires are considered to be the worst in Tenerife in the last 40 years. Find out more about whether it is safe to travel to Tenerife now, whether you can cancel your trip and what other countries in the world are suffering from forest fires

For the 5th day, a forest fire has been burning in Tenerife, which was recognized as the strongest in the Canary Islands in the last 40 years. The burning area reaches 40 km². About 8,000 residents have been evacuated, and another 4,000 remain on high alert.

Considering this fact, many tourists have a question: is it safe to travel to Tenerife and maybe it is worth canceling the vacation? The region of fire spread and the latest travel advice.

Where did the forest fires in Tenerife?

On Tuesday, August 15, a forest fire broke out in Tenerife near the foot of the Teide volcano in the Corona Forestal Natural Park. The main fire is spreading on the northeastern coast of the island, in the gorges and forests of the Arafo and Candelaria districts. Already 5 villages on the island have been evacuated - Arrate, Chivisaya, Media Montaña, Ahafonya and Las Lagunetas. Also, the local authorities blocked the roads that lead to the mountains in this part of the island.

The north-east of Tenerife is not a popular tourist area, but Tenerife authorities fear the fire could spread to busy tourist areas such as Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Puerto de la Cruz due to flammable pine trees in the region. That is why the main efforts of firefighters are aimed at preventing the spread of fire. About 250 firefighters and military personnel, as well as 14 airplanes and helicopters, are involved in eliminating the consequences of the fire, which pour water over the flames.

Experts believe that the fire was caused by a combination of three factors: strong winds, heat and local flammable pine trees.

Currently, the danger level in the region is yellow, as the temperature will reach 34 degrees in the next few days.

Is it safe to travel to Tenerife?

Currently, tourists from the fire in Tenerife are almost not affected, because most of the resorts are located in the south of the island, and the fires are raging in the north. From the capital of the island of Santa Cruz to the nearest forest fire is more than 20 km.

Tenerife's airports continue to operate as normal, with Queen Sofia Airport, also known as Tenerife South, handling most international flights, while Los Rodeos (Tenerife North) is used mainly for domestic flights.

The rules of entry and the necessary list of documents for traveling to Tenerife for citizens of different countries can be found on the Visit World portal.

Can I cancel trip to Tenerife?

Currently, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of most countries of the world do not advise their citizens to cancel trips to Tenerife, so tour operators and airlines are not obliged to cancel vacations or refund money. You will only be able to get a refund if you decide to cancel your holiday if the hotel you are traveling to has been affected by bushfires.

How do I know if my trip will take place in Tenerife?

So far, there have been no disruptions to flights to and from the island due to the wildfires. However, things can change quickly, so it's best to keep an eye on your airline or tour operator's email or website/social media platforms if you're heading to Tenerife in the coming days.

If your flight or tour is cancelled, your travel company should contact you to offer possible cancellation options.

Cancellation of the tour means that you are legally entitled to a full refund. You will also be able to choose another flight to your destination if the flight is cancelled.

What other countries in the world suffer from forest fires?

Several hotels were destroyed by wildfires on the Greek island of Rhodes. Fires also occurred in Corfu, due to which almost 2,500 local residents and tourists were evacuated.

The Italian island of Sicily is another popular tourist destination that has been affected by devastating forest fires. On July 25, Palermo Airport in Sicily was forced to close for several hours due to fires burning dangerously close to the runways.

Earlier this summer, smaller fires broke out in the neighboring Canary Islands - Gran Canaria and La Palma.

Portugal also experienced major forest fires that are now under control.

Not only Europe is suffering from heat and fires, we have already talked about the devastating forest fires on the Hawaiian island of Maui. Therefore, when planning a trip abroad, be sure to take care of a travel insurance policy, which will protect you from unforeseen situations during the trip and compensate for unplanned expenses - for treatment, in case of lost luggage, flight cancellation, etc.

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