La Palma, Spain - Spanish authorities have evacuated approximately 500 individuals from the vicinity of a raging wildfire that broke out in the early hours of Saturday morning in El Pinar de Puntagorda, a wooded area in the north-west of La Palma, one of the Canary Islands. This incident marks the first natural crisis on the island since a volcanic eruption occurred in 2021, and it comes at a time when several parts of mainland Europe are bracing themselves for extreme heat in the upcoming week.

The regional president of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, confirmed that the blaze has already destroyed at least 11 homes within the relatively small burnt zone of 140 hectares (345 acres), but he expressed concern that the number of evacuees could rise further. Clavijo acknowledged the challenges faced by firefighters, stating, "With the resources that we are deploying, we hope we can control the fire today, but the winds are shifting. More gusting winds are expected, and, combined with the dryness of the terrain and the lack of rain, this situation is complicated."

To combat the wildfire, Spain's army has deployed 150 of its firefighters to assist local crews. Additional firefighters from Tenerife, a neighboring island, are en route to La Palma via boats, as reported by Clavijo. The fire is spreading across hilly, wooded terrain, interspersed with residential areas. Notably, this region was not directly affected by the volcanic eruption in 2021.

Vicente Rodríguez, the mayor of Puntagorda, revealed to the Spanish public broadcaster RTVE that the fire originated within the boundaries of his municipality. He added that the area has experienced below-average rainfall in recent years, mirroring the drought-stricken mainland, due to changing weather patterns influenced by the climate crisis.

The wildfire coincides with a heatwave that is currently engulfing southern Europe, intensifying concerns about the risk of further wildfires and the challenges faced by firefighting efforts. Spanish authorities remain on high alert and are working tirelessly to contain the flames and ensure the safety of affected residents.