Wildfires that have torn through Tenerife, a Spanish island renowned for its tourist allure, are believed to have been deliberately set ablaze, according to police investigations.

Firefighters are relentlessly combating the ferocious inferno, which has spiraled beyond control.

Fernando Clavijo, President of the Canary Islands, denounced the culprits behind the arson for jeopardizing the lives of thousands and endangering property. Clavijo expressed his hope for a swift apprehension of those responsible.

Guardia Civil, the police unit leading the investigation, is pursuing three distinct lines of inquiry into the suspected arson. As of Sunday evening, an estimated 120 square kilometers of the island, a favorite among vacationers, had succumbed to the flames.

The wildfire's rapid expansion is evident in its footprint, which has grown to approximately 11,600 hectares by late Sunday afternoon – equivalent to around 16,000 football fields. The Canary Islands' emergency service confirmed this figure, marking an increase from the 8,400 hectares impacted earlier in the day.

While the southern front of the blaze is reportedly under control, concerns persist about the northern region. Fernando Clavijo, the regional leader, tempered the situation by highlighting the stability achieved in the fire's southern quadrant. Nonetheless, he lamented this calamity as one of the most severe Tenerife has faced in four decades.

The fire's toll on communities is profound, with more than 12,000 residents displaced from their homes across 11 towns in the north and northeast of the island, as estimated by authorities. Initial figures had indicated a higher evacuation count of 26,000 on Saturday, but this number was later revised downward.

Miraculously, no casualties or destroyed residences have been reported thus far. Official sources indicate that daily life remains relatively unaffected in the island's tourist hotspots, maintaining a sense of normalcy amid the crisis. (ILKHA)