At least 4,000 people have been evacuated from properties in Gran Canaria as an 'out of control' wildfire sweeps across the island.
The blaze on the popular holiday destination, in the Spanish Canary Islands, started on Saturday and has already destroyed around 1,700 hectares of land and closed 11 roads.
Residents and tourists were evacuated yesterday as the fire advanced on two fronts in a mountainous area of the island.
The inferno is being complicated by a combination of high temperatures, strong winds and low humidity.
"The fire is not contained nor stabilized or controlled," Canary Islands regional president Angel Victor Torres told a news briefing.
He added that he had spoken to Spanish acting prime minister Pedro Sanchez and requested central government help.
Ten planes and helicopters, as well as around 700 firefighters on the ground including about 200 from the military, were battling the blaze.
Three more planes are on their way to the area.
The fire has reportedly engulfed parts of Tejeda, Valleseco, San Mateo, Galdar, Moya and Artenara.
Hotels in the centre of the island have shut due to the raging flames, Mail Online reports.
Despite this, the main tourist areas on the island's coast have yet to be evacuated.
Temperatures in Gran Canaria have almost hit 40C in recent days, with low humidity and high winds.
The blaze started close to the town of Tejeda, which was also evacuated last week because of an earlier wildfire.
