Irish citizens heading to the Canaries on their holidays should not travel to areas affected by forest fires, the Department of Foreign Affairs said yesterday.
The department said travellers to Gran Canaria and Tenerife in the Canary Islands should be aware there are widespread fires burning out of control in the interior of both islands.
As of yesterday, the main holiday resorts - the cities of Santa Cruz Tenerife and Las Palmas in Gran Canaria, together with airports on both islands - were unaffected.
There are no reports of Irish casualties and the department said that although the situation was changeable, it would not be telling people to refrain from going to the islands.
A spokesman said travellers should heed the advice of their travel companies and the local authorities while on the islands.
The areas affected so far in Tenerife include the middle and northwest of the island and a small area in the northeast, specifically the municipalities of Los Realejos, Icod de los Vinos, San Juan de la Rambla, Los Silos, La Guancha, Garachico, El Tanque, Buenavista del Norte, Tacoronte, El Sauzal, Santiago del Teide and Guía de Isora.
The areas affected in Gran Canaria include the southwest of the island, specifically the municipalities of El Hoyo, Mogan, San Bartolomé de Tirajana and Tunte.
Visitors and residents in Tenerife and Gran Canaria concerned with the location of the fires should call the Spanish emergency services, which have English-speaking operators.
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