Gran Canaria: Around 8 thousand people were evacuated while firefighters try to control the fire unleashed in Gran Canaria. Since the afternoon of Saturday 17, began the fire that still continues without control and threatens to wipe out the entire summit of the island, Cubadebate publishes.

Forty villages were emptied, as the area is on orange alert (high risk). According to experts, it is a perfect storm: more than 30 degrees of temperature, less than 30 percent humidity and wind gusts of more than 30.

Sixteen planes and helicopters, as well as more than 700 troops on the ground, are currently working to contain flames up to 50 meters high, authorities said.

After devastating more than 3,400 hectares, the fire moves rapidly towards the natural park of Tamadaba, where some of its oldest pine forests are located.

According to statements made by the president of the Canary Islands Government, the socialist Ángel Víctor Torres, the fire is very virulent and there is no forecast to stabilize it in the next few hours.

The fire caused evictions in about twenty neighborhoods of six municipalities, Valleseco, Moya, Tejeda, Artenara, San Mateo and Gáldar.

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