La Gomera and Tenerife Forest Fires Arrests Made

Maria del Carmen Hernandez Bento the spokesperson for the Government of the Canary Island has confirmed that there have been several arrests relating to the devastating forest fires that have broken out on the islands of Tenerife and La Gomera.

The fires on La Gomera have destroyed 11 per cent of the islands land surface amounting to 4000 hectares, and the Garajonay National Park which is a Unesco World Heritage Site has sustained serious damage. The Garajonay National Park is at the centre of the island, and is a forest of lush vegetation resembling the forests of southern Europe millions of years ago that have long since disappeared.

Satellite Image La Gomera Forest Fires August 2012

Damage to property on La Gomera now stands at 46 houses destroyed with another 80 damaged.

Heat waves and low rain fall have contributed to the spread of the fires, and there are forecasts for this weekend of temperatures up to 42°C. It is feared that the heat wave this weekend, the sixth this year, will hamper the efforts being made to bring the fires under control.

The fires are believed to have been started deliberately, and investigations in to the fires are on-going by the Civil Guard.