Tenerife Wildfires: Tourists watch in horror as blaze spreads across island

Summary:

• Canary Islands' wildfire rages out of control, putting lives at risk.
• Mass evacuation operation underway as thousands flee their homes.
• Emergency services struggle to contain the fast-moving fire.
• Tourist areas remain unaffected, but smoke and ash unsettle vacationers.
• Wildfires present complex challenges due to difficult terrain and weather conditions.

For just a small moment, the Canary authorities thought they had this wildfire under control. But through the night and on Saturday morning, flames furiously crept forward and are now putting lives at risk. At first light, as they continue to battle the blaze, officials on the ground were urging people to leave their homes. A huge evacuation operation means thousands are seeking refuge, many leaving with little belongings, most with pets and animals.

Like Anya, watching on from the police line as the thick smoke nears her home. This is what happened in all the world.

On the end, every day we are watching this kind of things. And sometimes the problems are coming and there is nothing to do, just to take care of yourself. But as people leave, the emergency services keep on arriving. Right now, it's much more dangerous the president of the regional fire service told me. It's a very populated area where we are. There is danger. I know it is very unfortunate for people to leave their homes and their belongings, he said, but it would be sadder to lose a life.

This is a very complex scenario. Not only the worst fires this island has seen in over four decades, but accessing the mountainous landscape, which is a blaze, is proving difficult. The usual hustle and bustle of these villages in northern Tenerife are now drowned out by the sound of helicopters as they try to tackle this fire from up above. Tenerife's popular tourist areas have so far been unaffected, but the smell of smoke and ash falling from the sky has been unsettling to holiday makers. We have one lovely day here and we woke up the following day and saw the fire at breakfast and it was just terrifying. It was just very, very scary. Waking up this morning is probably the worst we felt seeing the ash just covering the swimming pool.

And the smell as well. Obviously the workers boarding everything up, the beds being taken up, it's the end of the holiday really. For now, these wildfires are not letting up and with the whirling wind and high temperatures on the way, even getting a hold of it is increasingly difficult. In Zamam Rashid, Sky News, Northern Tenerife.

With the wildfires continuing and challenging conditions ahead, Tenerife remains in a state of emergency as authorities work to bring the blaze under control.