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| Canary Islands sandstorm: Flights disrupted as dust cloud strands tourists | Canary Islands sandstorm: Flights disrupted as dust cloud strands tourists |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| A vast sandstorm from the Sahara has shrouded Spain's Canary Islands, disrupting travel plans for tourists flying in and out. | A vast sandstorm from the Sahara has shrouded Spain's Canary Islands, disrupting travel plans for tourists flying in and out. |
| Spain's airport operator Aena cancelled, suspended or diverted all flights to and from the islands on Sunday, citing low visibility. | Spain's airport operator Aena cancelled, suspended or diverted all flights to and from the islands on Sunday, citing low visibility. |
| But on Sunday night, Aena said operations had resumed at all airports, except Tenerife South. | But on Sunday night, Aena said operations had resumed at all airports, except Tenerife South. |
| A state of alert was issued by the regional government on Saturday, with residents advised to stay indoors, close their windows and avoid travel. | A state of alert was issued by the regional government on Saturday, with residents advised to stay indoors, close their windows and avoid travel. |
| Spain's national weather service said winds of up to 120km/h (75mph) could buffet the Canaries until Monday. | Spain's national weather service said winds of up to 120km/h (75mph) could buffet the Canaries until Monday. |
| It is strong winds that have blasted the islands with a dense cloud of sand from the Saharan desert, some 500km (300 miles) across the Atlantic Ocean. | It is strong winds that have blasted the islands with a dense cloud of sand from the Saharan desert, some 500km (300 miles) across the Atlantic Ocean. |
| The sandstorm is so enormous, it is visible from space, with satellite images showing it engulfing the islands, off the coast of north-west Africa. | The sandstorm is so enormous, it is visible from space, with satellite images showing it engulfing the islands, off the coast of north-west Africa. |
| Ferry services and efforts to tackle wildfires in Tasarte, Gran Canaria, have also been hampered by the winds. | Ferry services and efforts to tackle wildfires in Tasarte, Gran Canaria, have also been hampered by the winds. |
| In a tweet, Spain's transport minister, José Luis Ábalos, thanked neighbouring countries for their "solidarity". | In a tweet, Spain's transport minister, José Luis Ábalos, thanked neighbouring countries for their "solidarity". |
| The Canary Islands, which include Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and La Palma, are popular with European tourists in search of winter sun. | The Canary Islands, which include Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and La Palma, are popular with European tourists in search of winter sun. |
| What is the situation with tourists? | What is the situation with tourists? |
| Hundreds of flights have been affected by the weather conditions, leaving tourists stranded at airports across the Canaries. On Sunday, 822 flights were affected, Aena said in a tweet. | Hundreds of flights have been affected by the weather conditions, leaving tourists stranded at airports across the Canaries. On Sunday, 822 flights were affected, Aena said in a tweet. |
| Aena advised passengers to check the status of their flight with their airline. | Aena advised passengers to check the status of their flight with their airline. |
| "We're staying in regular contact with our customers and we look forward to getting them on their way tomorrow [Monday]," a spokeswoman for airline British Airways said. | "We're staying in regular contact with our customers and we look forward to getting them on their way tomorrow [Monday]," a spokeswoman for airline British Airways said. |
| Greg Horsman, 29, was expecting to fly home to Manchester from Gran Canaria on Saturday after going on a cruise with his girlfriend. | Greg Horsman, 29, was expecting to fly home to Manchester from Gran Canaria on Saturday after going on a cruise with his girlfriend. |
| He told PA news agency his flight was cancelled after a five-hour wait at the airport. | He told PA news agency his flight was cancelled after a five-hour wait at the airport. |
| "It's frustrating. We're just ready to be home," he said. | "It's frustrating. We're just ready to be home," he said. |
| What is happening with the wildfires? | What is happening with the wildfires? |
| Firefighters are battling to contain wildfires in Gran Canaria and Tenerife, where temperatures have soared above 30C in recent days. | Firefighters are battling to contain wildfires in Gran Canaria and Tenerife, where temperatures have soared above 30C in recent days. |
| In south-west Gran Canaria, near the village of Tasarte, blazes have scorched around 300 hectares of land, forcing the evacuation of 500 people. | In south-west Gran Canaria, near the village of Tasarte, blazes have scorched around 300 hectares of land, forcing the evacuation of 500 people. |
| On Saturday, strong winds prevented water-dropping aircraft from tackling fires near Tasarte. | On Saturday, strong winds prevented water-dropping aircraft from tackling fires near Tasarte. |
| On the neighbouring island of Tenerife, around 1,000 locals and tourists were evacuated as a precaution because of the risk from blazes. | On the neighbouring island of Tenerife, around 1,000 locals and tourists were evacuated as a precaution because of the risk from blazes. |
| Pedro Marin, head of Tenerife's local government, described the scale of the wildfires as "a completely unusual situation". | Pedro Marin, head of Tenerife's local government, described the scale of the wildfires as "a completely unusual situation". |
| All pictures copyright | All pictures copyright |
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