The Canary Island of La Palma is ravaged by large forest fires. An area of at least 4,500 hectares is on fire, forcing more than four thousand people to be evacuated. That is almost five percent of the inhabitants, mainly from the north of the island. Many of them have since returned to their homes.
It is a litmus test for the fire brigade, which has gone out with three hundred men to get the fire under control. That has not yet been successful, the fire may spread through the western side of the Spanish island, which is about 450 kilometers from the African west coast. The Spanish federal government has intervened. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has sent 120 soldiers with fire extinguishing equipment to La Palma. The wooded island has more often had to deal with major forest fires, including in 2005, 2009, 2012 and 2016.