Janet Anscombe

Overview of News

Update 5 February: Sadly, this extensive search has ended with the poor man being found dead. His body was taken by the bomberos who found him to the harbour at Los Gigantes where it was handed over to the Guardia Civil.

Original post 4 February: In the wake of warnings to take extreme care and avoid hazardous coastal areas because of the orange alert for high winds, emergency services have spent much of the night searching for a man who disappeared into the sea near the Europa apartments in Puerto Santiago.

Emergency services were called shortly after midnight with reports that the man, said to be in his early 30s, had fallen into the sea. The search continues this morning and involves a search and rescue helicopter, lifeboats, bomberos, Guardia Civil and Policía Local.

A 33-year-old woman died around 1.20pm this afternoon after an accident between her car and a lorry on the Granadilla to El Médano road (TF-64) near the San Isidro Co-op. Emergency services were sent to the scene but despite the paramedics’ best efforts to resuscitate her, she was declared dead at the scene.

Update 3 February 3pm: Just to update once more, the Tenerife Cabildo has issued the recommendation that because of the high winds forecast, the public should not make unnecessary journeys during this weekend. The Cabildo says that the recommendation especially applies to the northwest and southeast of the island, where the winds are expected to be strongest.

The Cabildo requests the public to:

• Avoid going out as much as possible, and shut and secure doors and windows during the strong winds.
• Take in or secure any objects that could be blown away, such as flowerpots, outdoor furniture, blinds, etc.
• If you have to go out, try not to walk in narrow tree-lined walkways, and avoid older buildings or construction sites.
• Stay clear of walls, fences, trees, etc, and avoid walking under cranes, scaffolding, or other objects that could be blown over by the wind.

Update 3 February: Jet2 has denied that it is planning to cut flights to Tenerife. Despite what the Cabildo claimed on Wednesday, Jet2 said that although these preferential rates are important the company had no intention of linking its presence in the islands with them. I see there’s no denial of price increases though …..

Original post 1 February: The new national Government has eliminated the Canaries’ preferential air tax rates, and almost immediately, the Tenerife Cabildo has confirmed that as a consequence, flights to Tenerife have been reduced by Jet2 and Monarch. Both companies had increased their flights in 2011 but now say they are going to pull back. Not only that, but to add to the pain of a decreased service, ticket prices will increase.

The minister for Industria, Energía y Turismo, José Manuel Soria, has announced that authorisation for Repsol to start oil prospecting between Lanzarote and the Moroccan coast is imminent. Sr Soria said that this phase involves establishing for certain that crude oil deposits exist, a necessary first phase prior to any plans for extraction or exploitation.

The minister said that although there is no empirical evidence as yet, all the signs are that there is a lot of crude oil, and of good quality. It seems that Morocco is already carrying out its own research in the same region in its own maritime area.

This is not the first time that Spain has been on the verge of authorising prospecting off the eastern islands, but previous plans have foundered for a variety of reasons, including environmental concerns. Sr Soria said, however, that Spain could no longer allow itself the luxury of not authorising such explorations, and that the Canaries would logically benefit from any discovery of such deposits, assuming that a further decision was made to extract them.

Update 2 February 2012: The Canarian Government says the flu is now at “epidemic” rates in the islands. This simply means, however, that registered cases have doubled in the last week, and it is the rate of increase, rather than number of cases, that allows the epidemic category. There are currently fewer than 2 in 1000 cases being registered, the actual rate is 198 in 100,000, with six being considered serious enough to require admission to hospital. Rates are expected to increase over the next month or so, however, particularly among those who are vulnerable, so it is more important than ever for those groups (as below) to see a doctor and get the vaccination as promptly as possible now.

The La Gomera connection service between the capital San Sebastián and the harbours at Playa de Santiago and Valle Gran Rey finally ceased operation on Tuesday 30 January. The service had been maintained by Fred Olsen by means of the catamaran Benchi Express, but has pulled out of the island after cuts to Canarian Government subsidies. As from this week, communication between the different parts of La Gomera is more difficult, and totally reliant on the island’s roads.

Update 1 February: This concert is still not finally confirmed, and it’s not encouraging that the date when tickets will be available has now been postponed …

The promoters are still insisting the concert will go ahead, and attribute the delay to “logistical problems”, but if past history is anything to go by, this could be a PR exercise rather than a real plan – and the concert list has been scheduled on Springsteen’s own site for some time without Gran Canaria figuring in it.

It might still happen, but I’ll believe it when I see it now. I’ll post again if and when the tickets go on sale, but if this turns out to have been a PR exercise, then those responsible need to learn that this sort of publicity is actually harmful, rather than beneficial, to the islands.

A 66-year-old man is critically ill, but alive, in Candelaria hospital tonight after suffering a heart attack while driving in Tijoco Bajo shortly after 6pm this evening. Emergency services were called to Calle Granero in the town after receiving reports of the incident. At the scene the paramedics eventually managed to resuscitate the man after considerable effort, and given his still extremely critical condition, he was transferred immediately by specialist ambulance to Candelaria hospital, where he remains in critical condition.

Update 31 January: Jellyfish invaded a swathe of Arona and Adeje coastline yesterday, leaving the beaches of Los Cristianos, Las Vistas, El Camisón and Troya at the mercy of the creatures. Some 11 bathers were treated for stings, and swimmers were again advised to steer clear of the water. It is hoped that a change of wind direction will alter the currents today to steer the creatures away from bathing areas.

I am grateful to Sergio from www.mardefoto.com for permission to use the above photo of jellyfish in the Los Cristianos shallows.

Update 14 January: Today all four beaches in El Médano are closed to swimmers. The La Tejita, Chica, El Médano and Leocadio Machado beaches are all affected by the jellyfish invasion. Nine people have now been treated for stings. The El Cabezo and La Jaquita beaches are not affected.

Update 30 January: There has been a significant increase in the number of earthquakes over the last few days, with 11 today alone. Since many of these are under land (see some of the most recent locations in the map above), vulcanologists say that even with magma continuing to flow from the main vent, the pressure is building below the island. The harmonic tremor has been variable but, since last evening it has strengthened and maintained its level.

Throughout today there has been a great deal of smoking lava on the surface of the Las Calmas sea, almost like a show for the Prince and Princess of Asturias, who have been visiting the island on the Prince’s birthday in a show of support.

Update 30 January: The programme for the Los Cristianos carnaval has now been published and is HERE, though the final details are said to be subject to modification.

The main events are:

• Opening parade on Saturday, 3 March at 7pm, from Avenida Francisco Andrade Fumero, to Centro Comercial Gala, Playa de las Américas.
• Carnaval Queen competition in the Fairground on Friday, 9 March at 9.30pm.
• Main parade on Sunday, 11 March at 5pm,  from Paloma Beach apartments through Avenida Juan Carlos I to the Fairground. To be followed by the carnaval dance with music from Orquesta “Wamampy” in the Fairground.
• Burial of the Sardine on Monday, 12 March at 8pm, followed by a dance in the Fairground.

Update 30 January: Just a reminder that this coming Thursday, 2 February, is a Tenerife-wide public holiday in honour of the Virgen de la Candelaria. Many shops and businesses will be closed, as La Morenita (the Black Madonna) is the Canary Islands’ patron saint, and she has particular meaning for Tenerife because her apparition is said to have taken place in 1392 in Candelaria, where her basilica is now located.

There is always a televised mass and procession in Candelaria itself on the 2nd, as well as in many towns throughout Tenerife, particularly in the north. There is also a tradition here of pilgrims walking from all over the island to Candelaria, and they are a regular sight walking in groups, even on the motorway, in the days leading up to the fiesta itself, though efforts have been made to stop this in recent years for the walkers’ own safety. There is more information from the Tenerife Cabildo HERE.

As of yesterday, Callao Salvaje and Playa Paraíso have been adopted by Adeje after a wait of 40 years in the case of Callao Salvaje and 20 in that of Playa Paraiso. From now, the two towns will enjoy all Adeje’s services alongside the rest of the municipal area, whether rubbish collection or water supply, as well as street cleaning and garden work.

The only part of the entire area that is not fully adopted yet is a plot of some 10,000 square metres in Callao Salvaje destined for a green area, where there remains a legal case outstanding against the promoter. Adeje mayor José Miguel Rodríguez Fraga said, however, that the matter was more a formality than substantive.

Spanair ceased trading as of last night, and the company website is showing the following text HERE for any travellers affected:

As of today, 27 January 2012, Spanair has ceased its operations and therefore, given these exceptional circumstances, all our flights from today are cancelled.

If you have a ticket for the next few days or weeks, you have varios alternatives:

a- if you paid with a credit card, notify the card company for a refund
b- if you have cancellation insurance, contact the insurers to establish the cover you have
c- if you bought a tickt through a travel agency, you will need to contact them.
d- If you have a Spanair ticket for a different airline, your flight is, in principle, guaranteed. We ask that you confirm with the relevant airline.
e- Spanair, in co-ordination with the Cataluñan regional government, has arrived at an agreement with Vueling, Iberia and Air Europa for passengers travelling over the next three days to have a special tariff as follows: