Latest news with #Sahara-like
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- Climate
- RTÉ News
Wildfires blaze across Europe
The EU said today that it is working "non-stop" to support countries battling wildfires raging across European countries. Extreme summer heat, which scientists say human-driven climate change is exacerbating, has fuelled blazes in Greece, Portugal, Spain and the Balkans. Heat alerts have also been issued in Italy, France and England - and a climate expert today warned that we can expect these fires to move further north over time. In some regions, firefighters are making strong gains - Turkey has reported a substantial reduction in blazes - while others, notably Spain and Greece, are still in the grip of a lethal and escalating crisis. Spain has has been battling the blazes for ten days. Fire has affected nearly 440,000 hectares in the eurozone so far in 2025, double the average for the same period of the year since 2006, according to the EU Science Hub's Joint Research Centre. Spain today mourned its third wildfire death this week, and activated an EU emergency facility to get help to tackle the blazes. While Greece has been beating back a blaze threatening its third-largest city Patras as an unrelenting heatwave stoked tinderbox conditions in southern Europe. Authorities across European countries have cited multiple causes for the massive fires, including careless farming practices, improperly maintained power cables and summer lightning storms. But there have also been multiple reports of arson, including in Spain and North Macedonia, where rogue developers have been accused of deliberately starting blazes. Lessons for Ireland Climatologist John Sweeney, who is Emeritus Professor of Geography at Maynooth University, said that the Mediterranean Basin "is a major hotspot for climate change globally, as desiccation in summer months makes it vulnerable to ongoing fire damage". He told RTÉ News that "we can expect to see this spreading north as time goes on", adding that there are "some signs of that already in France", where there have been sporadic outbreaks of wildfire. The wildfires ravaging Europe are "part and parcel of what we would expect to see" with "Sahara-like conditions being transformed and translocated further north in Europe" - a process which is driven almost exclusively by man-made climate change. Prof Sweeney said that this has relevance for Ireland, where we already see some wildfires, although mostly gorse-related. But he urged that we should not rule out the potential risk posed in this jurisdiction by reduced or insufficient forest cover. EU response, Spain asks for help The EU said today that it is doing all it can to stop the blazes across the south of the continent. "We continue non-stop to work on the support of affected countries," spokeswoman Eva Hrncirova said. "Fighting wildfires is mainly the task for the member states, but we are here to help them and to assist them with our civil protection mechanism," she added. Under the mechanism, EU member states offer help to other countries on the continent and Brussels pays for the operations. So far during the current fire season it has been activated 16 times. Spain is availing of this support for the first time, and is being given two water bomber aircraft to help fight blazes in the worst hit areas. The Spanish government has also raised its national emergency response level, preparing additional support for regional authorities overseeing multiple evacuations and highway closures. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed condolences after the death of a firefighting volunteer in the hard-hit Castile and Leon region north of Madrid, where thousands have been displaced by evacuations. "The wildfire situation remains serious, and taking extra precautions is essential," Mr Sanchez wrote in an online post. "Thank you, once again, to all those working tirelessly to fight the flames." Evacuation centres have been filled to capacity in parts of central Spain, as the most severe fires pushed northward into more rural areas, where some residents hosed the walls of their homes to try to protect them from fire. Isabel Moreno, a meteorologist based in Madrid. said that at a time of year when temperatures of 32C might be expected they are climbing to 40C. But she told RTE's Today with Colm Ó Mongain: "We know how to manage these kind of temperatures". Greece Greece has been hard hit, as wildfires intensified right across southern Europe, after a night-long battle to protect the perimeter of the country's third-largest city. Greek firefighting resources have been stretched thin by relentless battles against multiple outbreaks following weeks of heatwaves and temperature spikes across the Mediterranean, and there is no sign of things easing up. Outside the port city of Patras, firefighters struggled to protect homes and agricultural facilities as flames tore through pine forests and olive groves. Tall columns of flames exploded behind apartment blocks on the outskirts of the city, while dozens of vehicles were torched as flames swept through a nearby impound lot. "Today is another very difficult day with the level of fire risk remaining very high across many parts of the country," a fire service spokesman said. As water-dropping planes and helicopters swooped overhead, residents joined the effort, beating back flames with cut branches or dousing them with buckets of water. On the island of Chios, exhausted firefighters slept on the roadside following a night-long shift. Aircraft rotated between blazes on the western Greek mainland, the Patras area and the island of Zakynthos. Balkans: Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro Despite being under extreme pressure itself, Athens sent assistance to neighbouring Albania, joining an international effort to combat dozens of wildfires in the hard-hit nation. An 80-year-old man died in one blaze south of the capital Tirana, officials said. Residents of four villages were evacuated in central Albania near a former army ammunition depot. In the southern Korca district, near the Greek border, explosions were reported from buried Second World War-era artillery shells. Authorities said dozens of homes were gutted in a central region of the country. Meanwhile, law enforcement officials in North Macedonia cited indications of arson, motivated by rogue developers. Firefighters also struggled to contain a blaze at a nature reserve outside the capital Skopje. The European Union has rushed aid to fire-hit countries, including non-member states, with ground crews and water-dropping aircraft, with much of it being concentrated on Montenegro, where major wildfires continued to burn in rugged areas near the capital Podgorica. "Natural disasters know no borders," Ljuban Tmusic, head of Montenegro's civil protection agency, said. "In Montenegro the resources we have … are clearly not enough." Turkey A forestry worker was killed yesterday while responding to a wildfire in southern Turkey, officials said. The Forestry Ministry said the worker died in an accident involving a fire engine that left four others injured. Turkey has been battling severe wildfires since late June, and a total of 18 people have been killed, including 10 rescue volunteers and forestry workers who died in July. However, things look better here than they do for Spain or Greece, with the government saying that most of the blazes have been contained, including a large fire in the northwestern province of Canakkale that forced hundreds to flee from their homes. Both Canakkale airport and the Dardanelles Strait, which connects the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara, were temporarily shut due to the wildfires on Monday. They have since reopened. France, England In France, which is recovering from massive recent fires in the southern regions, temperatures of up to 42C are expected for the third consecutive day. Officials issued weather alerts giving local authorities discretion to cancel public events and cordon off areas with high fire risks. Heat health alerts have also been extended into next week for much of England after the fourth heatwave of the summer brought thunderstorms and showers. The UK Health Security Agency said yellow warnings will now be in place in Yorkshire and Humber, the East and West Midlands, London, the South East and South West and East of England until 6pm next Monday, 18 August. The warnings mean significant impacts on health and social care services are possible due to high temperatures, including a potential rise in deaths among the elderly or those with pre-existing health conditions. Alerts had been previously due to end at 6pm yesterday. Gerard Mills is a physical geographer based at UCD. He told RTÉ's Today with Colm Ó Mongain that no evaporation occurs in cities, which pushes up temperatures. People die in cities because of the heat usually die in their homes, he said, because they become too hot. Going forward, he urged the use of a dual approach, reducing temperatures inside homes, and also in outdoor areas.
Times
28-04-2025
- Times
Which is the best Canary Island?
Dotted in the Atlantic, about 850 miles southwest of mainland Spain, the eight sun-baked Canary Islands often feel like their own spectacular, volcanic world. Each of the three most-visited islands — Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote — makes a richly rewarding destination in its own right, and many holidaymakers return year after year to their favourite. So if it's your first time in the Canaries, which should you pick? Or, if you're making a return trip, should you mix things up or stay loyal? With endless activities and hugely varied, well-established accommodation, both Tenerife and Gran Canaria are ideal for families. Whether you fancy kayaking, whale-watching, hiking, waterpark adventures or lazing on lava-sand beaches, the two grandes dames of Canarian tourism have it covered. But they also provide plenty of fun for a holiday as a couple, with friends or as a solo traveller. Lanzarote, meanwhile, pulls in active types with its great cycling, hiking and surfing, along with a growing number of design-savvy independent travellers drawn to its boutique hotels, the local creative scene and the legacy of the 20th-century artist César Manrique. It's easy to see why these are the archipelago's most popular islands, and overtourism concerns have grown in recent years, so it pays to tread lightly and (if possible) consider visiting outside peak season for a more relaxed experience. Beaches Winner Lanzarote On all three of the islands, the southern coasts have the best sunny weather (coastal temperatures rarely dip below 15C), while the north brings a wilder, less touristy feel but a more varied climate. Both Tenerife and Gran Canaria have their share of knockout-pretty beaches, from volcanic-sand coves to sweeping golden crescents and glassy, natural Atlantic pools. In Tenerife, surfy El Medano, golden Playa de las Teresitas near Santa Cruz and the natural pools at Bajamar and Garachico are favourites, along with the busy, family-friendly sands in the south around Costa Adeje, Playa de las Americas and Los Cristianos. Gran Canaria has the urban beauty of Playa de las Canteras in Las Palmas, the protected Sahara-like dunes of Maspalomas to the south, and natural pools (like Los Charcones) dotted along its northern shoreline. But if fabulous beaches are your Canaries must-have, Lanzarote steals the spotlight. One of the loveliest places in the entire archipelago is Lanzarote's Punta del Papagayo, a rugged, protected promontory just east of Playa Blanca on the south coast. Here, a string of powdery, pale-gold beaches sits between cliffs plunging into the turquoise Atlantic, with just a laid-back chiringuito (beach venue) and a few dusty hiking trails for company. Then there's Famara, a dream of a boho-cool surf beach stretching beneath spine-tingling cliffs on the north coast, also popular with swimmers, yogis and sun-seekers. Or go for a dip in the sparkling natural sea pools at Punta Mujeres, paddle in the gentle Caletones coves near Orzola, or take a day trip over to undeveloped La Graciosa by ferry for blissful back-to-nature strands. Winner Tenerife Canarian gastronomy has put itself firmly on the map over the past decade or so, with local chefs celebrating both wonderfully creative recipes and traditional flavours all over the archipelago. If you're picking just one foodie destination, make it Tenerife, which as of April 2025 hosts seven of the Canaries' Michelin-starred restaurants (an eighth is currently moving premises) — including the only two kitchens awarded two stars each. Leading the charge are Canarian chefs the Padrón brothers, Juan Carlos and Jonathan, who are behind double-starred El Rincón de Juan Carlos in Adeje. Tasting menus aside, the island also delights diners with its seafood restaurants, innovative tapas bars, Japanese-fusion kitchens, brunch-fuelled coffee spots and more. Don't miss the mid 20th-century Mercado de Nuestra Señora de Africa in Tenerife's capital Santa Cruz, with its overflowing fresh-produce stalls and low-key bar-restaurants. And for a taste of classic Tenerife cuisine, hunt down a guachinche — these frills-free, budget-friendly restaurants serve simple home-style meals, mostly in the northern part of the island and during the winter months (get a local recommendation on the ground for the best). Gran Canaria is home to its own line-up of cutting-edge restaurants, two of which are nestled in Santa Catalina, a Royal Hideaway Hotel: the Padrón brothers' Michelin-starred Poemas by Hermanos Padrón, and Muxgo, which recently bagged the Canaries' first ever Michelin green star for its inventive, sustainably rooted menus. Tapas bar-hopping around the narrow old streets of Triana and Vegueta in Las Palmas is a joy too. Caldera-strewn Lanzarote also has a crop of fired-up kitchens reimagining Canarian food with fresh flair (try SeBE, Palacio Ico, or Mirador de las Salinas), while the island's simple teleclubs (social centres) do typical Canarian dishes such as grilled goat's cheese and wrinkly potatoes with mojo sauces. Hotels Winner It's a tie . . . Lanzarote for boutique hotels, Tenerife and Gran Canaria for five-star resorts and family-focused properties La Casa de los Naranjos in Lanzarote Each of these islands is crammed with heavenly hotels, so it's a matter of which kind of base matches your needs. For boutique boltholes and creative design, Lanzarote easily leads the way. A fresh wave of independent small-scale retreats is celebrating the island's arty spirit and volcanic landscapes while also reviving intriguing historical buildings, such as the former home of César Manrique's family, now transformed into the chic César Lanzarote hotel. Other stars include Alava Suites in Costa Teguise, La Casa de los Naranjos in Haria, Buenavista Lanzarote among La Geria's lava fields and the Palacio Ico hotel in the former capital Teguise. • More great hotels in Lanzarote Intimate boutique escapes have arrived in Gran Canaria's capital Las Palmas too. Veintiuno (a converted 18th-century mansion), La Colonial Suites (a stylish twist on an early 20th-century casa de Indianos) and Hotel Masanet (an art deco-inspired beauty) all await in the old Vegueta neighbourhood. And Las Palmas' garden-filled Santa Catalina hotel — a luxuriously revamped 19th-century landmark — ranks among the top places to stay in the Canaries. But the island still remains most loved for its facility-laden resorts, which cluster around Maspalomas, Puerto de Mogan, Meloneras and Playa del Ingles in the south. Retro-feel Seaside Palm Beach is a well-established Maspalomas favourite. Hacienda de las Cuatro Ventanas in Tenerife Over in Tenerife, five-star wonders are a signature on the southwest coast, where seductive addresses such as Bahia del Duque (one of the Canaries' original luxury escapes), Tivoli La Caleta Tenerife Resort (with a gorgeous Anantara spa) and the Ritz-Carlton Tenerife, Abama (a citadel-like hideaway with Michelin-starred dining) lure regulars. If retreating to the wild north coast appeals, Be Tenerife has restored a collection of north-coast haciendas as design-led villas, and Puerto de la Cruz's historic Gran Hotel Taoro — where Agatha Christie once stayed — is relaunching in summer 2025 following a head-to-toe makeover. Things to do Winner Tenerife On the Anaga coast of Tenerife GETTY IMAGES The queen of the Canaries outshines its siblings in sheer, thrilling variety. Where else offers the chance to hike up Spain's tallest peak — the 3,718m (12,200ft) Mount Teide — then go whale-watching in Europe's first whale heritage site, or bodega-hopping through sloping volcanic vineyards? Hiking is a key draw all over Tenerife, from cliff-hugging paths in the remote Anaga mountains to solitary trails around the offbeat Parque Rural de Teno and routes through the Unesco-listed volcanoscapes of the Parque Nacional del Teide. It's worth keeping in mind that some of the most popular trails now require prebooked permits, including Teide's summit and the Barranco de Masca. Elsewhere, you can take a kitesurfing class, join morning yoga in El Medano, kayak past the unbelievably beautiful Los Gigantes cliffs, explore grand Canarian architecture in La Laguna and La Orotava, and even day-trip across to the go-slow neighbouring island of La Gomera. Then there's the lively arts scene in Santa Cruz, which also hosts one of Spain's greatest carnival celebrations; start with the design-forward Tenerife Espacio de las Artes (TEA), then wander through the mural-splashed historic centre. And that's all before even thinking about flopping on Tenerife's beaches. • ALAMY Gran Canaria has a similarly tempting adventure-activity menu, along with excursions into the mountainous centre of the island around Artenara and Tejeda, the chance to see ancient art by the indigenous Guanches at the Cueva Pintada ('Painted Cave') in Galdar, and the cultural joys of the dynamic capital Las Palmas. It's an active scene in Lanzarote too, where the great César Manrique's 'interventions' add an arts-focused edge to any itinerary: don't miss his 1960s house-studio built into the lava fields at the Fundación César Manrique. • Best things to do in Gran Canaria • Bars Winner It's a close call between Gran Canaria and Tenerife Enjoying the sunset with a drink in Las Palmas ALAMY The archipelago's go-to party island is Gran Canaria, where all-night clubs mingle with craft cocktail bars, music festivals and vibey chiringuitos. Maspalomas is the centre of the action, drawing travellers from all over Europe with its lively year-round LGBT scene, especially the activity-packed Pride celebrations each May. Or hit the town in Gran Canaria's buzzing capital Las Palmas for rooftop cocktail spots (try Alis at the Santa Catalina, or Rocktop La Peregrina in Vegueta) and trendy, multi-concept haunts such as Talleres Palermo. • More LGBT-friendly destinations Café life in La Laguna, Tenerife ALAMY Tenerife has its own stash of swish roof-terrace cocktails bars, laid-back chiringuitos with live music and open-late clubs, especially around Los Cristianos and more upmarket Costa Adeje and La Caleta. Some of the Canaries' finest cocktails are served at Maresia Atlantic Bar, the rooftop terrace at La Caleta's five-star Royal Hideaway Corales Beach resort, whose head mixologist Yoni Mesa was Spain's champion cocktail maker in 2023. Then there's studenty nightlife in La Laguna, and plenty going on in Santa Cruz, where kiosk bars buzz until late on leafy plazas and La Noria is a popular old-town nightlife area with tables spilling out on to the street. Lanzarote has a much more relaxed nightlife scene, mostly centred on the local bars overlooking the Charco de San Gines lagoon in the capital Arrecife. You'll find plenty of tempting spots for crisp Canarian wines at sunset (El Chupadero in vine-filled La Geria is popular) and many vineyards have smart wine-tasting terraces. But the best way to savour Lanzarote's wine scene is by touring one of its many respected bodegas, whether at a long-established spot like El Grifo (the oldest winery in the Canaries) or a newer, small-scale operation such as Bodega Cohombrillo.
