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Maximum alert level declared for risk of forest fires in the islands of Tenerife, La Gomera, La Palma, El Hierro and Gran Canaria.

Alert levels have been activated from 10:00 hours today as the heatwave begins to roll over the archipelago bringing dry continental air from Africa.

Based on the information currently available and following the Special Plan for Civil Protection and Attention to Emergencies due to Forest Fires of the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands (INFOCA), the General Directorate of Security and Emergencies of the Canarian Government has declared that the situation requires maximum alert on the islands of Tenerife, La Gomera, La Palma, El Hierro and Gran Canaria. 

The alert has been put in place since 10:00 today, Friday 13th, due to the entry of dry continental air from the African continent and the ensuing heatwave, which could cause high temperatures of +40 degrees, especially in the eastern islands. With high temperatures above 30 and relative humidity generally at 30% causing alarm which could be extended through to Thursday, 19th August. 

According to the Canarian Government, this episode will begin to primarily affect the peaks and midlands of Tenerife and Gran Canaria and slowly move westwards in the coming days to reach La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro, where it will primarily affect the peaks and midlands but lowering in altitude as they days go by.