Is it safe to travel to Tenerife after the latest forest fires? Travel information after 3,000 people evacuated overnight
- About 3,000 people were evacuated the night of another outbreak
- In August, the Spanish island experienced its worst fires in decades
- So where are the fires? And is it safe to travel to Tenerife?
After 3,000 people were evacuated from their homes in Tenerife on October 4 and 5, another European holiday destination has been hit by potential travel chaos.
The Spanish island was affected in August by the worst forest fires in decades and, although they were controlled, they were never completely extinguished.
The latest outbreak has only had a fraction of the impact of summer on 30 hectares (70 acres), but will still make would-be tourists question whether it is wise to travel to the Canary Islands.
So where are the fires? And is it safe to travel to Tenerife? Read the answers below.
Some 3,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes overnight as another wildfire began to rage through parts of Tenerife.
After one night, an area of just 30 hectares (70 acres) was affected as firefighters struggled to contain the blaze.
Where are the forest fires in Tenerife?
The 30 hectares affected by the fire are located around the towns of Santa Úrsula and La Orotava.
The August fires also occurred in this area, but they spread much further and devastated 14,000 hectares (35,000 acres) of pine forests and brush, forcing 12,000 people to abandon their homes for weeks.
And the latest outbreak is feared to expand to that size, a result of years of drought on the island and unusually high October temperatures.
The forecast changing winds also make the possible evolution of the situation less predictable.
Is it safe to travel to Tenerife?
One of the most popular areas of Tenerife with tourists, Puerto de la Cruz, is approximately just 3 miles (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, and there are no international restrictions regarding travel.
None of Tenerife’s airports, whose north is closest to the fires, have experienced delays as a result of the fires.
Management of the situation has already been assumed by the Government of the Canary Islands, with hundreds of firefighters and soldiers deployed to fight the fire and extinguish it the day after it started, and also helicopters available locally if necessary.
A helicopter flies over the La Corujera area on October 5, after the forest fire broke out the night before
What should I do if my flight is cancelled?
If your flight is canceled unexpectedly, there are several different options.
You are legally entitled to a full refund, which extends to other airline flights that you cannot use on the same booking, such as a outbound or return flight.
You also have the option of a replacement flight to reach your destination.
If a flight cancellation delays you at least two hours, you have the right to help with expenses such as spending the night at the airport.
Similarly, if the replacement flight you were offered was delayed by two hours or more and you were given less than two weeks’ notice, you are legally entitled to compensation.
