Tag: alert
Latest Gran Canaria News, Views & Sunshine
UD Las Palmas Celebrate Return to La Liga First Division in Grand Style after Gran Canaria Stadium Goalless Draw with Alavés
UD Las Palmas made a glorious comeback to the First Division in a thrilling encounter against Deportivo Alavés that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle. In front of a raucous near-capacity-crowd of 31,790, Las Palmas sealed their return ticket to the top flight with a hard-fought goalless draw in the season’s photo finish.
The Canary Guide Día de Canarias #WeekendTips 26-28 May 2023
What an interesting last weekend of May ahead. Weather predictions are showing some rain showers are likely across Gran Canaria. This extended #WeekendTips covers up to Tuesday, when all things Canarian are celebrated on the Día de Canarias. There’ll be some gorgeous Patron Saints’ festivities happening in San Fernando de Maspalomas as well as in Valleseco.
Fun Fact:
Valleseco literally means “dry valley” in Spanish, but is actually one of the wettest municipalities Gran Canaria. Nestling between the famous fresh water sources of Firgas & Teror, half way up the island’s mountainous northern slopes, this area is well known for its apple growers, cider and its weekly market
Six weeks since the unexplained disappearance of Anna-Karin on Gran Canaria
The authorities on Gran Canaria have been engaged in a rigorous search for Swedish tourist Anna-Karin Bengtsson, who went missing in the south of Gran Canaria around April 9. Her unexplained disappearance has caused her family much distress, with no clues to her whereabouts having emerged in the six weeks since they first realised her phone was no longer functioning.
The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 19-21 May 2023
An exciting May weekend ahead with abundant events and festivities taking place all around Gran Canaria. There are Patron Saints’ festivities for Motor Grande, in Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria, and in El Tablero in the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana and up in the mountains of Artenara. There is also a two day lively exhibition event in Meloneras boulevard and the Rally Gran Canaria is held this Friday and Saturday.
Dead man, of German origin, found floating in the sea near Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria
The body of a 58-year-old German man was found this Friday floating just off the coast of Mogán, on the south-west of Gran Canaria.
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Canary Islands maintains Covid Alert Levels as Government establishes a de-escalation in the measures applied
Groups of people in spaces for public and private use, indoors or outdoors, can be no more than a maximum of 12 people, cohabitants excepted, at Alert Levels 1 and 2; no more than eight people, except cohabitants, at Alert Level 3, and six people, except cohabitants, at Alert Level 4.
Night time opening hours are restricted until 04:00 at alert level 1 and 2; at 03:00 hours at alert level 3, and at 02:00 hours at alert level 4.
The TSJC Regional High Court, today, also rejected voluntary Covid passport measures which seems to mean an official end to the system of checking health status for access facilities and businesses, at least for now.
The Canary Islands Governing Council in its ordinary session held this Thursday, February 10, agreed to continue with the moderate and progressive de-escalation of restrictions in the face of a continued decrease in the accumulated incidence of this sixth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The approved measure, adopted after evaluating the epidemiological report of the General Directorate of Public Health of the Canary Health Service, contemplates relaxing the restrictions of each Health Alert Level, relaxing that the measures in force..
This measure will be applicable from 00:00 on February 11, 2022 until midnight on March 10, 2022, without prejudice to the possibility of extension depending on the epidemiological situation.
The Governing Council insists on the importance of continuing to maintain caution in the face of the Omicron variant and the healthcare pressure on the Archipelago’s health system that this sixth wave has caused, which will mean all the islands stay at their current Health Alert Level. The report from the General Directorate of Public Health still ranks healthcare capacity at either high or very high risk on all the islands, despite the reduction in the number of daily cases. Although the Accumulated Incidence (AI) since January 14 has shown a continuous decrease in the number of cases, with a reduction of 83.6 percent measured over 7 days; The transmissibility reached was so high that these indicators also continue to be at high risk.
However, this continued decrease, in the accumulated incidence, that has occurred in recent weeks allows the measures to be relaxed in accordance with the current epidemiological situation.
This measure is agreed in view of the favourable evolution of the epidemiological indicators, and in application of the provisions of article 22.4 of Decree Law 11/2021, of September 2, which establishes the legal regime of health alert and measures for the control and management of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Canary Islands, establishes that “The regional health authority may agree, in a reasoned manner, to apply a lower level of alert than that applicable in a given territorial area based on its specific epidemiological situation, provided that the general interests of health intervention against the COVID-19 pandemic and the preservation of the healthcare capacity of the health system are not put at risk.”
De-escalation and flexibility
The agreement reached today supposes, de facto, the suspension of the restrictive measures that were applied to the islands in Alert Level 4, entering into force the measures of the Alert Level 3, instead. In the same way, islands that are at Level 3, will adopt the measures of Level 2 and each island that passes in future reviews to Level 2, will benefit from the measures previously applied to Level 1. Level 1 precautions remain unchanged.
The relaxation of measures to a level lower than that established on each island affects all activities and establishments subject to limitations due to the pandemic. It is established at alert levels 1 and 2 that groups of people in spaces for public and private use, indoors or outdoors, cannot be more than a maximum of 12 people, except cohabitants; eight people, except cohabitants, at Alert Level 3, and six people, except cohabitants, at Alert Level 4.
As for closing times, the maximum authorised hours now shift closing times to 04:00 hours at Alert Level 1 and 2; at 03:00 hours at Alert Level 3, and at 02:00 hours at Alert Level 4.
With regard to hotel and restaurant establishments and activities, on Levels 1 and 2 the capacity will be 100% outdoors and 75% indoors, tables may be occupied by up to a maximum of 12 people and maximum closing times established at 04.00 hours; at Alert Level 3 the capacity will be 75% outdoors and 50% indoors, the tables can be occupied by a maximum of 8 people and closing will be before 03:00; and, finally, at Alert Level 4, capacity will be 75% on terraces and 40% indoors, tables can be occupied by no more than 6 people and closing time no later than 02:00.
????️ #CGobCan El viceconsejero @_AntonioOlivera avanza la desescalada en las medidas aplicadas en cada nivel de alerta para hacerlas equivalentes al nivel inferior
???? La entrada en vigor será esta medianoche pic.twitter.com/DIX4TYKe5m
— Presidencia GobCan (@PresiCan) February 10, 2022
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Cabildo declares alert for the risk of forest fires in the midlands and summits of Gran Canaria
The Cabildo de Gran Canaria has declared an alert for the risk of forest fires at the summits of the island and in the southern midlands from heights above 400m altitude, and on the north from 300m above sea level. The alert was declared at 10:00 am on Friday and will be in effect until 09:00 on Monday, June 14, and prohibits the use of fire on forested land.
President of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria Antonio Morales with Federico Grillo, The head of Emergencies of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria
The predictions of Spain’s State Meteorological Agency (AEMET), foresees temperatures above 30ºC in the shade across almost the entire island, with continued calima in higher altitude areas, as well as the existence of a small fire in Mogán, which is in the liquidation phase, as well as the large amount of dry vegetation susceptible to burning. All these reasons have led the insular institution to activate the Plan for Insular Territorial Civil Protection of Gran Canaria due to the risk of fire.
The president of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria and director of the PEIN, Antonio Morales, explained that it is about “being prepared and having all the means activated and ready to act quickly and forcefully in the face of any attempt” since “the weather situation is very adverse and due to the rains there is a lot of dry vegetation ”and he asked the population“ to take extreme precautions and avoid the use of fire and elements that could cause sparks on forest land or near fire risk areas”.
Although forest land usually has no authorisations for agricultural burning, in areas where the temperature and humidity conditions are above the thresholds established, with temperatures over 30 degrees and humidity below 30%, all such authorisations are suspended.
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Canary Islands approach their half millionth vaccine dose administered as Gran Canaria and Tenerife remain on Alert Level 3, and Fuerteventura’s improvement means they drop down to level 2
The Canary Islands Governing Council, who met on Thursday, as the region approaches their half-millionth vaccine dose administered, agreed to maintain current alert levels for COVID-19 on all islands, except Fuerteventura, which, given their epidemiological indicators continuing to improve, drops from Alert Level 3 to Alert Level 2.
So, until April 22 at least, Tenerife and Gran Canaria continue at level 3 (red traffic light), Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and La Graciosa at level 2 (orange traffic light), and La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro at level 1 (green traffic light).
For the latest Canary Islands data on Covid-19, updated daily, check our Canary Islands dashboard
“On Gran Canaria and Tenerife there are still worrying data, there is a line that we cannot reduce,” said the Government spokesman, Julio Pérez, announcing this week’s general review of measures in force for each level based on experience and technical criteria.
Analysis of the eight epidemiological indicators used, to determine each level of alert shows that in the two capital islands, Tenerife & Gran Canaria, despite their indicators worsening slightly, are not currently in sufficient conditions to decree a level 4 alert, which is the most restrictive, despite some on the islands having requested it this week.
The two capital islands continue on the red traffic light for a second month, with perimeter controls, curfews at 10 pm and meetings of no more than four people. However, so far they have not been able to reduce the contagion levels or reduce their seven-day or fourteen-day accumulated incidence, which, in fact, have risen. The Ministry for Health pointed out that this may be due to several factors, including the Easter holidays and pandemic fatigue, which can easily lead a population to neglect compliance with health standards, among other factors.
Pérez has acknowledged that the Government of the Canary Islands is wondering what other measures could be more effecting in reducing the trend of infections, but has stressed that these same restrictions have worked at other times and now they have again been shown to do so in Fuerteventura, which has allowed that island to decrease their alert level.
However, the Minister of Public Administrations has indicated that the effects of the vaccines roll out “seem to begin to be visibly noticeable” given that contagions have been reduced between the target groups who have already vaccinated with both doses, which are groups 1 and 2.
“It is a relevant fact and without wanting to think that everything is resolved, it is a sign that the vaccine has positive effects,” said Pérez, who has trusted that the same effect will occur in the vaccination groups who follow.
The rate of vaccinations has resumed, following the recent problems in delays caused with AstraZeneca, and will be offset by the arrival of more Pfizer vaccines, expected over coming weeks, although he did not know specifically in what quantities.
Pérez confirm that within the Canary Islands archipelago there have been days when between 16,000 and 17,000 people have been vaccinated, although the Canary Health Service estimates that, if there are enough vaccines available, that amount can be doubled.
He has also indicated that, as the islands approach their half-millionth vaccine dose administered, the figures for the use of doses in the Canary Islands are within an acceptable range, and has warned that the supply of vaccines throughout the Spanish territory is based on the number of vulnerable people in each regional community.
?Actualización de los niveles de alerta en cada isla:
?Nivel de alerta 1: El Hierro, La Gomera y La Palma.?Nivel de alerta 2: Fuerteventura, Lanzarote y La Graciosa.?Nivel de alerta 3: Gran Canaria y Tenerife.
➡Más info: https://t.co/qRb3NiQlmg pic.twitter.com/SXRviOR9MT
— Sanidad Gobcan (@SanidadGobCan) April 15, 2021
Approaching the half-millionth vaccine dose on the islands
The Regional Health Ministry, announced on Friday that they have now administered in excess of 457,276 doses, using the three available vaccines against COVID-19 approved by the European Medicines Agency, our of the 512,410 received, which represents 89.24%. Of the total doses administered, 315,169 were from Pfizer, 24,756 from Moderna and 117,351 from AstraZeneca. On, Thursday, April 15, the vaccination teams in the Canary Islands managed to administer 18,418 doses, representing a new dose record for a single day. Of these, 12,120 were from Pfizer, 636 from Moderna, and 5,662 were from AstraZeneca. That meant that a total of 121,919 people had already received both doses of the vaccine, representing 6.52 percent of the total target population (1,871,033 people).
Development of the vaccination schedule
The vaccination schedule is moving forward well, with each of the target population groups at which it is directed, and based on vaccines available, destined for each age group according to the National Vaccination Strategy against COVID-19. Vaccination teams in each basic health zone are moving on to each population group, as the previous one ends, prioritising continuing with the maximum coverage for each age group, without the vaccination process having been paralysed on any of the islands. The Ministry of Health reports that they have already begun to vaccinate people between the ages of 70 and 79 years old, who make up Group 5B, in the Canary Islands health centres. This group is being inoculated, indistinctly, with the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
Group coverage progress so far:
Following immunisation, with both doses, for groups 1 and 2 (ie residents and workers in social health centres and first-line health professionals), vaccination then continues with each of the groups established following criteria of vulnerability and exposure. 89.33% of Group 4, that of large household dependents, according to the latest data are now fully immunised, with the two doses. For the seniors group 5 (a- 80 year olds and older, b- 70-9 year olds and c- 60-69 year olds), 28,293 people have already received both doses, that is, 9.93% of the group. While 152,632 have received at least one dose, that is 53.56%. In Group 3, all healthcare and social health personnel, 100% have already received their first dose and 25.81% both doses; and for group 6, 28.52% have already had their first dose. Of group 7, those under the age of 60 with high risk conditions, 3,072 people have had their first dose, which equates to 17.32% of that target population.
POPULATION GROUPS TO BE VACCINATED
Group 1. Residents and health and social health personnel who work in homes for the elderly and care for large dependents.
Group 2. Front-line personnel in the health and social-health field.
Group 3. Other health and social health personnel:
º Group 3A. Hospital and PC personnel not considered in group 2. Dental, dental hygiene and other personnel.
º Group 3B. Public Health services personnel-management and response to the pandemic. Health and social health personnel not previously vaccinated. Physiotherapists, occupational therapists, pharmacy offices, dental technicians …
º Group 3C. Rest of health and social health personnel not previously vaccinated.
Group 4. Large non-institutionalised dependents.
Group 5. Senior groups:
º Group 5A. People aged 80 and over.
º Group 5B. People from 70 to 79 years old.
º Group 5C. People from 60 to 69 years old.
Group 6. Groups with an essential function for society:
º Group 6A. Security Forces and Bodies, Emergencies and Armed Forces.
º Group 6B. Teachers and staff of early childhood education and special education.
º Group 6C. Teachers and staff of primary and secondary education.
Group 7. People under 60 years of age with high risk conditions for severe COVID-19.
Group 8. People aged 56-59 years.
Group 9. People aged 45-55 years.
?Las personas nacidas entre 1952 y 1955 que no hayan sido vacunadas contra la #COVID19 pueden solicitar cita en el @012Gobcan , 922 470 012 o 928 301 012 desde hoy. ➡️Más info: https://t.co/f5vSC643by pic.twitter.com/NZk9YKVuLs — Sanidad Gobcan (@SanidadGobCan) April 16, 2021
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Mogán Town Council again announces restrictions to the water supply, unfit for human consumption, this time in the Soria neighbourhood
Sources and cover image courtesy of our partners over at El Sur Digital GC:Mogán Town Council have once again, through social networks, announced restrictions on the supply of water, this time in the Soria neighbourhood, warning that the water supply cannot be used for drinking, cooking or preparing food.
This is not the first, nor is it the only neighbourhood that is now suffering from these water supply restrictions, apparently, as has been confirmed in other neighbourhoods throughout the municipality, due to high levels of Boron or Sodium in the supply. Various campaigners and concerned residents have been complaining for years about water management in Mogán, but few can ever remember it being so bad that multiple residential neighbourhoods have had to be repeatedly warned against using the supply they pay for, due to dangerously high levels of chemicals being detected.
The facebook profile of the Mogan Consistory states: “The Public Services Administrative Unit of the Mogán Town Council reports: As a result of certain incidents detected in the supply infrastructures at SORIA, the population is informed that from this moment there is a RESTRICTION on the use of water, which may NOT be used for drinking, cooking or preparing food. “
“The restriction will remain until the Council communicates otherwise. The Council is working to resolve the incidents as soon as possible.”
Breakdowns in the water supply across various neighbourhoods of Mogán have become a signature problem of the current administration, headed up by mayor Bueno and her CIUCA team, among other serious issues such as a lack of social services provision, a total disregard for the work of local NGO’s, including the infamous attempted closure The Food Project in Arguineguín, and of course ongoing investigations into alleged electoral fraud, unsatisfactory urban planning permissions, and a range of questionable decisions on contracts awarded for construction projects and the provision of basic services within the municipality, which accounts for more than 20,000 residents on Gran Canaria. Arguably few problems could be as serious as the basic provision of water to homes in Mogán.
Municipal water tank cleaning and disinfection work, has led to negative reports of incidents when analysis has been carried out by health officials, most of the time due to excess chloride and sodium levels.
The municipality of Mogán has, in the last year alone, up to the end of 2020, had 9 water supply tanks having been detected to contain excess levels of chloride and sodium in the water, making it not suitable for use by the population, a trend that has continued into 2021, with multiple and frequent warnings being issued from the town hall that water from the taps cannot be used for drinking, cooking, or to prepare food intended for consumption of the general population.
data capture updated to 2020
Above all, the health authorities maintain that the water supply in these places is especially not recommended for consumption by children under 8 years of age.
data capture updated to 2020
Mogán Town Council have had to interrupt the water supply over recent months to the populations supplied by facilities at Arguineguín 1, Arguineguín 2, Filipinas, El Cercado, La Charca, Las Filipinas, Playa de Mogán, Tabaibales, Vento – Loma de Pino Seco. And now added to that is the supply for Soria, the site of the largest fresh water reservoir in The Canary Islands.
According to data from the Ministry of Health, in 2019 the municipality of Mogán received 125 water quality bulletins, warning that the supply was not suitable for human consumption. Many of them at the same deposits that today continue to read very high levels of harmful chemicals not suitable for human or animal consumption.
2019 report screenshot
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Here are the current guidelines of Alert Level 3 on Gran Canaria, Tenerife & Fuerteventura that came into effect at 00:01 on Saturday April 10
The health alert Level 3 on Gran Canaria, and restrictions on the Canary Islands, remain generally unchanged, it was announced on Thursday, after the finalisation of the extraordinary enhanced measures adopted over the easter holidays, with the exception that normal mobility between islands is to be restored, depending on the alert level in force on each island, and therefore it is no longer, in general, restricted, across the entire archipelago, to travel only for work, appointments for medical conditions, due to the illness of a relative or to return to the island of residence, or failing all of that with a requirement for negative diagnostic test to certify no active infection. Travel between the islands will now return to normal rules, with masks and social distancing measures, or as per the restrictions for the alert level in force on the islands in question.
For the latest official data on The Canary Islands, updated daily, check out this COVID-19 dashboard for mobile devices, or for a more feature-rich experience try the dashboard for desktop devices
The islands of La Palma, El Hierro, and La Gomera remain at Level 1, Lanzarote and La Graciosa at Level 2 and Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura at Level 3. The Government of the Canary Islands updated the alert levels for the islands yesterday. For more detailed information (in Spanish) See this official pdf of the measures and restrictions based on each health alert level
Gran Canaria stays at Level 3, along with Tenerife and Fuerteventura
Travel Restrictions. Islands at Alert Level 3 still maintain perimeter closures, which can only be travelled to or from under the assumptions set forward in the law restricting movement to and from high risk islands.
Limitations to the freedom of movement at night . The freedom of movement is limited between 10:00 p.m. and 06:00 a.m. every day, except for essential activities such as the acquisition of drugs from a pharmacy; assistance getting to healthcare centres, services and establishments: assistance to veterinary care centres for urgent reasons and compliance with work, professional, business, institutional or legal obligations; assistance and care of domestic animals or on livestock farms, among others.
Maximum capacity in public and private spaces. Four people maximum, unless all are cohabitants.
Specific measures for hotels, restaurants and terraces, bars and cafes . You may not exceed 50% of the authorised capacity on outdoor terraces. The use of interior spaces, and consumption inside bars is not allowed. Maximum occupancy per table or group of tables is 4 people outside. All establishments most be closed before 10 pm. Home delivery is allowed until midnight.
Sports practice . The practice of physical activity or sports is allowed in interior areas of sports facilities and centres with a maximum capacity of 33%, with masks and a safety distance of 2 meters. Sports are allowed outdoors in groups of maximum 4 people, including the monitor, if an interpersonal safety distance of 2 meters cannot be maintained at all times. No more than 50% of the sports capacity will be exceeded in any of the outdoor sports centres and spaces.
Hospital centres and health care centres. Visits to and departures of residents are suspended except for necessary situations at the discretion of the physician or centre.
Public transport . The capacity remains 50% on regular urban and metropolitan land public transport.
Los #NivelesdeAlerta continúan siendo los mismos:
? #Nivel1 Hierro, La Gomera y La Palma.? #Nivel2 Lanzarote y La…
Posted by Canarias Saludable on Friday, April 9, 2021
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The Canary News
No changes necessary to COVID-19 containment measures or alert levels, at least until next Thursday
Canary Islands Governing Council spokesperson, Julio Pérez, reports no changes necessary and nor will it be necessary to take any new containment measures, at least until next Thursday, when the council will again meet to look at the most current data regarding COVID-19 infection rates and steps needed to ensure the general health of the population.
Following the Governing Councils regular weekly meeting they are of the opinion that with the current data, there is no immediate need to introduce variations to the current alert levels, which means that everyone returns to the “traffic lights” system that was in place prior to the easter week enhancements.
The special rules, adopted for Holy Week, disappear and the “regular” agreed system of traffic lights is resumed.
La Palma , El Hierro and La Gomera stay at level 1; Lanzarote and La Graciosa at alert level 2, and Tenerife , Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura, at level 3.
He has also declared that the Governing Council enquired if travel during the easter week had had an impact on the epidemiological situation, but it is still too early to make that assessment.
– Julio Perez, Canary Islands’ Government Spokesperson
Pérez commented that the situation is not the same on all the islands, on Tenerife the number of cases has decreased but the figures are not as low as they need to be, and on Gran Canaria “it seems” that the numbers are stabilising.
He explained that in the case of Gran Canaria, although in recent days the data has slightly decreased, looking at the accumulated rate for 7 and 14 days, the island is at a higher than average risk, so it is appropriate to wait a little to see if stabilisation leads to a decrease in new infections.
On Fuerteventura the situation is improving but still not enough, and on the rest of the islands the data is lower.
He recalled that at level 3 some restrictions such as inter-island movements and the curfew are maintained.
He also drew attention to the fact that almost a million PCR tests have now been carried out, and in terms of vaccination he has stated that the important thing is that it is possible to maintain the Government’s target goal of reaching the middle of summer with 70% of the population already vaccinated.
This will occur if there are no interruptions in the supply and he also stressed that optimal use should be made of the vaccines, of which 14,000 more were supplied this Wednesday.
The director of the Canary Islands Health Service (SCS), Conrado Domínguez, had already announced this morning, during a radio interview on Cadena SER that at the moment there should be no changes necessary in the restrictions though “infections continue to worry”, and this has been confirmed at the Governing Council of the Canary Islands today in which the epidemiological evolution of the pandemic and the alert levels of each island were evaluated.
“The quantitative and qualitative data” is analysed at these weekly meetings, “such as where outbreaks arise, bu the current evolution of the pandemic is quite stable in the Canary Islands” Domínguez said. An example is on Gran Canaria where the number of daily positives has not finished falling: “Incidence indicators on the island are still high and the rise in pressure on critical care beds means that it is necessary to continue taking measures, or at least , maintain them”, he specified.
#CGobCan Comparecencia del portavoz del Ejecutivo, Julio Pérez, para informar de los acuerdos adoptados en la reunión del Consejo de Gobierno de #Canarias ⬇️ [HILO] pic.twitter.com/pTeatUVJbz
— Presidencia GobCan (@PresiCan) April 8, 2021
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50 more feared perished at sea as Maritime Rescue search the ocean in response to warnings and a distress call from a sinking rubber boat
The Salvamento Maritime Rescue search plane that has been tracking the 100km-wide strip of ocean between Fuerteventura and Tarfaya (Morocco) this morning has not yet managed to find any sign of a rubber inflatable boat after the distressed occupants put out a call for help after finding themselves in serious trouble. A another alert has also been received following the departure of a second boat, this time from Dakhla.
Tarfaya is 100km due east of The Canary Islands Image: Google Earth
50 migrants were reportedly aboard the inflatable, including ten women and four minors, who requested help by phone through the Caminando Fronteras human rights collective, who have migrant community outreach programs along several western maritime borders between Africa and Europe, who reported that the occupants were saying that the bottom of their boat was tearing and that they were in danger of sinking.
The Spanish Maritime Rescue received information from the Rabat emergency coordination centre that a Moroccan patrol boat has also joined the search.
Meanwhile, a further departure alert has been received: specifically, a boat that would have left this Monday for the Canary Islands, travelling from Dakhla, in the south of Western Sahara, a 450km distance as the crow flies likely to double when at sea. With another 48 migrants on board, including 17 women and six minors, this Maritime Rescue search has too become a matter of urgency.
There is currently no news at the moment of their whereabouts. NGOs this week have warned of the “very worrying trend” toward a higher proportion of migrant women and children attempting the crossing this year, following the death of a young child last week from severe dehydration at sea.
Dakhla is 450km due south of The Canary Islands Image: Google Earth
Editor’s Comment:
Spain’s heroic Maritime Rescue service rightly don’t concern themselves with why people might need help, their only focus is to prevent loss of life. Currently SAR resources are searching for nearly 100 people suspected to be at sea trying to cross. NGO’s have warned of a worrying trend towards an increased proportion of women and children attempting the crossing this year. The Salvamento Maritimo have repeatedly debunked ultra-right claims and suspicions of “mother ships” travelling The Canary Route, with every little boat they are aware of having attempted the journey from various points along the West African coast, travelling between 100km and 1000km or more on journeys that take between 3 and 20 days. Most are not properly prepared with insufficient fuel, food or water. Every indication so far this year points to an increase in numbers attempting the journey over last years record breaking 23,023 who arrived, the second highest number of arrivals since records began. It is thought between 500 and 1000 people lost their lives last year in the attempt, but there is just no way of knowing exactly how many.
#EFEFotos | Salvamento Marítimo ha rescatado este sábado a 52 inmigrantes africanos, todos varones, que se dirigían a #GranCanaria en un cayuco localizado 22 kilómetros al sur de la isla.? EFE/Ángel Medina G. pic.twitter.com/4qACs3gte8
— EFE Canarias (@EFE_Canarias) March 20, 2021
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The Canary News
Gran Canaria Weather: Time to hit the beach at more than 28ºC in the shade, Calima bringing Saharan Dust and 70kmph+ winds, light rain possible into next week
The Canary Islands General Directorate of Security and Emergencies declared a state of pre-alert yesterday in anticipation of Calima affecting Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, Tenerife and La Gomera. A yellow advisory was already in place for winds expected to gust to more than 70kmph for Thursday.
After a warm night of occasional howling winds, Gran Canaria awoke on Thursday morning to temperatures exceeding 28ºC in the shade, higher in direct sunlight, and Saharan dust suspended in the air, blanketing particularly the eastern islands and trapping warm air close to the ground, from the coasts to the summits. Gusts of very strong wind are expected throughout the day from the southeast, according to the prediction of Spain’s State Meteorological Agency AEMET. There will be intervals of high cloud. Temperatures rising slightly, across the archipelago.
Maspalomas Beach
Amadores Beach
Moderate southeasterly winds, with strong intervals, and occasionally very strong gusts, are expected on the summits and western slopes, though they should subside during the afternoon. By the end of the day, to the west a moderate northwesterly wind is expected.
At sea variable force 2 to 4 winds on Wednesday, mainly from the east and northeast, increased through the night to blow from the east and southeast by Thursday morning, likely to reach force 4 or 5. Swell increased during the night locally on the south coast and moving toward the northeast. Sea swell to the north is expected to reach around 1 metre.
Thursday is expected to remain relatively clear though the Calima will intensify during the afternoon and into the evening, significantly reducing visibility. Temperatures on the south west expected to remain above 28ºC in the shade until Friday. Moderate easterly and southeasterly winds, with strong intervals are expected along the west facing slopes (from Gáldar to Mogán) though decreasing through the day.
Friday will start with a little cloud, tending toward some drizzle in the southwest during the afternoon. Calima, is expected to be more dense during the early morning, significantly reducing visibility, but then should subside as the morning wears on. Temperatures will fall a little from Thrusday’s highs of more than 28ºC in the shade, particularly on the northwest. Moderate southwesterly winds will continue with strong intervals, more intensely felt on the southeast and northwest coasts during the middle of the day.
On Saturday cloudy skies with probable light rains will tend towards inland areas and on the mountains cloud bringing weak rains. Temperatures will stay similar to Friday’s or decrease slightly. Moderate winds from the west.
Sunday is looking cloudy with light to moderate rains inland, at the summits there is even the smallest possibility of some frosting at the very highest points, cloudy intervals with probable light rains elsewhere. Temperatures slightly decreasing. Breezes and moderate westerly winds expected.
By Monday as we start into next week the low pressure system that brought light weekend rain could be sustained over the Canary Islands if it doesn’t head north towards the Peninsula. So some mild instability to start the week on the Canary Islands, where rain to the north of the islands is still likely, although probably less intense than we are likely to have seen in the days preceding, with chance of small amounts of wet weather appearing elsewhere.
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