Canary Islands engulfed by huge Saharan sandstorm

Hot, strong winds hamper firefighters efforts to contain wildfire which broke out amid storm

The Canary Islands have been engulfed in a sandstorm so vast it obscured them from satellite view, as a seasonal blast of hot, sandy winds known as Calima swept across from the Sahara.

Vociferous winds gusting to more than 100mph and carrying clouds of red sand buffeted the region, creating an impenetrable orange haze that saw all flights from Gran Canaria grounded and a state of alert declared across the archipelago.

Residents were warned to keep doors and windows closed, while authorities in Lanzarote’s capital cancelled all outdoor events, including internationally renowned Carnival festivities in Santa Cruz.

Firefighters in the west of Gran Canaria battled through the night to contain a wildfire which broke out near the village of Tasarte, burning at least 150 hectares as it was fanned by Calima, according to local media.

On Sunday at midday, the regional fire service said the wildfires had not yet been brought under control and that the high winds had complicated the situation, urging residents to keep updated on the latest advice.

Spain’s national weather service issued yellow weather warnings relating to the clouds of sand, and more severe orange warnings for wind on every island in the region on Sunday.

Warnings remain in place in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote on Monday, when winds are expected to reach up to 75mph.

While temperatures soared to 30C in some areas on Saturday, the state meteorology service predicted highs of 26C on Monday.

Spain’s airport operator announced briefly that flights had resumed at Gran Canaria’s airport on Sunday morning, before flights were restricted again due to adverse conditions.

The islands are a popular holiday destination for those seeking winter sun, and the storm has hit while English schools are on their half-term holidays.

While it is unclear how many Britons may have been affected by the airport closures, at least seven separate airlines operate regular flights to the UK from Gran Canaria.

Social media was awash with dismayed holidaygoers whose flights had been cancelled, with some would-be passengers expressing frustration at being held onboard planes left stuck on the tarmac after the airport was closed again on Sunday.

“My parents are stuck in Gran Canaria,” one Twitter user wrote to an airline, adding: “It’s a little infuriating that you would ship them off to the airport today, make them sit on a delayed plane and then cancel the flight.

“Why do this if the sandstorm is still present? Surely you could have foreseen the flight would be cancelled again?”

Calima events occur most often in winter, when high pressure over the Sahara sends huge volumes of across the Atlantic, reaching as far as the US island of Puerto Rico.

They typically affect the Canary Islands for between 12 to 72 hours and, in addition to sand, have been known to bring locusts and dragonflies.

Additional reporting by Reuters