Gran Canaria, Aug 19 (UNI) About 8,000 people have been evacuated from their homes on here in Spain’s Canary Islands, where firefighters are battling a wildfire that has burned more than 3,400 hectares of land.
'An unprecedented operation was put in place today to combat the blaze, with more than 700 people on the ground and the support of 16 aircraft, including four seaplanes and 11 helicopters, nine of which will be fighting the fire and two that will be coordinating the efforts,' Spain's El Pais reported.
The fire has so far affected the central part of the island rather than coastal areas busy with tourists in the summer months. The area is mainly mountainous and criss-crossed by ravines, making much of it inaccessible.