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| Fires rage across Canary island | Fires rage across Canary island |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| A huge forest fire is out of control on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands, forcing the evacuation of up to 4,000 people, including tourists. | A huge forest fire is out of control on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands, forcing the evacuation of up to 4,000 people, including tourists. |
| Military aircraft are fighting the flames, spread by strong winds and heat, but firefighters have been pulled back from the worst-affected areas. | Military aircraft are fighting the flames, spread by strong winds and heat, but firefighters have been pulled back from the worst-affected areas. |
| Some residents were saved just minutes before fire engulfed their homes. | Some residents were saved just minutes before fire engulfed their homes. |
| There are fears the flames could spread to an observatory housing the world's largest telescope. | There are fears the flames could spread to an observatory housing the world's largest telescope. |
| The Roque de Los Muchachos Observatory has been operating for more than 20 years, and a new telescope was inaugurated last month. | The Roque de Los Muchachos Observatory has been operating for more than 20 years, and a new telescope was inaugurated last month. |
| The fire is thought to have been caused by a stray firework let off during local fiestas. | The fire is thought to have been caused by a stray firework let off during local fiestas. |
| Homes gutted | Homes gutted |
| Some progress has been made in combatting the fires after temperatures eased slightly, but a fire close to the town of Mazo - a popular tourist destination - remains out of control. | Some progress has been made in combatting the fires after temperatures eased slightly, but a fire close to the town of Mazo - a popular tourist destination - remains out of control. |
| TV pictures showed flames metres away from houses in the village of Tigalate, where a major containment effort is under way. | TV pictures showed flames metres away from houses in the village of Tigalate, where a major containment effort is under way. |
| Several dozen homes in the town of Fuencaliente have been totally gutted by the wildfire. | Several dozen homes in the town of Fuencaliente have been totally gutted by the wildfire. |
| Dozens of tourists have been unable to catch flights home because of road closures. | Dozens of tourists have been unable to catch flights home because of road closures. |
| Canarian government official José Miguel Ruano said firefighters had been pulled back because of "a real risk of danger to human life", and the focus had been shifted to airborne methods. | Canarian government official José Miguel Ruano said firefighters had been pulled back because of "a real risk of danger to human life", and the focus had been shifted to airborne methods. |
| Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has arrived in La Palma to oversee efforts to tackle the fire. | |
| La Palma is a small, relatively undeveloped island, with a resident population of about 85,000. | La Palma is a small, relatively undeveloped island, with a resident population of about 85,000. |
| It is dominated by a dormant volcano, and is renowned as one of the greenest of the Canary Islands. But its lush vegetation has been seared by the high temperatures of recent days. | It is dominated by a dormant volcano, and is renowned as one of the greenest of the Canary Islands. But its lush vegetation has been seared by the high temperatures of recent days. |
| Smaller fires have broken out on other Canary Islands, including La Gomera, Tenerife, and Gran Canaria, but are expected to be brought under control soon. | Smaller fires have broken out on other Canary Islands, including La Gomera, Tenerife, and Gran Canaria, but are expected to be brought under control soon. |
| Many parts of Gran Canaria were destroyed by a massive fire two years ago. | Many parts of Gran Canaria were destroyed by a massive fire two years ago. |
| Are you in the affected region? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | Are you in the affected region? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. |
| Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |