Sandstorm Forces Closure Of Airports On Spain's Canary Islands
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published February 24, 2020 | 12:20 AM
Madrid, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Feb, 2020 ) :Airports on Spain's Canary Islands were closed again Sunday after a sandstorm hit the archipelago, airport authorities said.
The airports were first shut Saturday and scores of flights cancelled after strong winds carrying red sand from the Sahara shrouded the tourist hotspot.
Some flights briefly resumed Sunday morning before airports were shuttered again.
"Visibility is very low. Planes which had been due to land on the islands are being diverted to mainland Spain," a spokeswoman for Spanish airport operator AENA said.
All flights in and out of the airport on Gran Canaria, and all flight's leaving Tenerife's two airports, were suspended along with five others.
The regional government declared a state of alert on Saturday and advised people to keep doors and windows closed, avoid non-essential car travel and stay away from coastal areas.
Spain's national weather service warned that winds of up to 120 kilometres (75 miles) were set to buffet the Canaries until Monday.
Strong winds also prevented water-dropping aircraft from putting out fires in Tasarte village in southwest Gran Canaria, which have scorched around 300 hectares of land and forced 500 people to be evacuated.
"Since they can't use planes or helicopters, the fronts of the wildfire are getting out of hand," Angel Victor Torres, the head of the regional government, told reporters.
Located off the coast of Morocco, the Canary Islands are a popular tourist destination for northern Europeans seeking winter sunshine.
The archipelago received 13.1 million foreign visitors last year, according to national statistics institute INE figures, making it Spain's third most visited region.
Recent Stories
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 27 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 27 April 2024
HEC reviews curricula for environmental sciences degree programme
ICC Asia looking forward to an action-packed Asia Cricket Week
Yuvraj Singh named ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Ambassador
Greece hands Olympic flame to 2024 Paris Games hosts
Two Kyiv hospitals evacuating over feared Russian strikes
World must act on neurotech revolution, say experts
Charles & Catherine's cancer diagnoses
Champions Alcaraz and Sabalenka through in Madrid Open
King Charles to resume some public duties during cancer treatment: palace
US defense chief announces $6 bn in security aid for Ukraine
More Stories From Miscellaneous
-
Modern Education Techniques: A pathway to achieve economic development
22 hours ago -
Kite Flying: From cultural festival to deadly sport
22 hours ago -
PDMA predicts gusty wind, rain with thunder, hails
4 days ago -
Iranian president Raisi given guard of honour at PM House
5 days ago -
Intellectuals, writers accolades Naseer Mirza on his literary contribution
5 days ago -
Bahawalpur Adabi Sangat hosts memorable mushaira
6 days ago
-
Cattle farming vital to alleviate poverty in rural areas
6 days ago -
Pakistan: A land of tourism, archeological wonders
6 days ago -
Transforming education sector: from job hunters to job creators
8 days ago -
Amjad Bobby remembered on 19th death anniversary for timeless contributions to music
12 days ago -
Legendary actor Nadeem’s 26 films released on Eid-ul-Fitr days in 50 years
13 days ago -
Besant Hall Cultural Centre to celebrate evening with Sanam Marvi on 26 April
13 days ago