At least 4,000 people have been removed from their homes as the forest fire that broke out in the early hours of yesterday on the Spanish island rages out of control La Palmathe authorities announced today as Europe faces a severe heat wave.

The fire in La Palma occurred yesterday in El Pinar de Putagorda, a forest area in the northern part of the islandin the Canary Islands, as a result of which the inhabitants of the villages of Putagorda and neighboring Tiharafe have to be evacuated.

Ten aerial vehicles and 300 firefighters on the ground tried to bring the blaze under control on the island, which is part of the Spanish archipelago off the west African coast.

At least 13 houses were destroyed as the fire spread, Canary Islands president Fernando Clavijo said.

“There was a resistance from the locals to leave their homes, but I appeal to the citizens to be responsible,” he told reporters in La Palma.

According to the authorities, more than 114,904 acres have been destroyed by the fire.

in Tenerife, another island of the eight Canary Islands, a forest fire that broke out yesterday, led to the evacuation of 50 people and destroyed about 148 hectares, the authorities announced.

Spain’s King Felipe VI had a phone call with Clavijo yesterday to express his support for the people of La Palma, the Spanish royal house announced.

In September 2021, more than 2,000 buildings were destroyed and many thousands of people were forced to leave their homes when lava began pouring out of the Cubre Vieja volcano.