SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 9 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Cabildo of Tenerife has convened all 31 mayors and mayoresses of the island this Tuesday to collectively assess the risks faced by local municipalities in the event of a volcanic incident, and to begin coordinating and adapting emergency plans.
As part of the island corporation’s Volcanic Security and Protection Strategy, this meeting allowed participants to gain firsthand insight into the necessary procedures and recommendations that local authorities must communicate to their citizens.
Tenerife’s president, Rosa Dávila, emphasised that there is no need to “alarm the population,” as there are no signs of an “imminent” eruption on the island. However, she believes it is essential to “take the initiative” with “bold decisions” that enable communities to “know how to act and avoid improvisation.”
In addition to risk analysis, the gathering also served to discuss initiatives and proposals aimed at updating municipal emergency plans.
Mari Brito, president of the Canary Federation of Municipalities (Fecam), valued the meeting, noting that all municipalities must be “involved” in any contingency that affects the island. “That’s why we all need to be informed about how to act,” she remarked.
The meeting also included contributions from Blanca Pérez, the councillor for Natural Environment, Sustainability, and Security and Emergencies, who has been working for over a year to ensure that Tenerife has the best safety guarantees in the Canary Islands.
“We are preparing an island for the future, with resources and infrastructure that place us at the highest level of safety, and for this, it is crucial to have the support of other administrations,” she stated.
On 15 September, the Cabildo and local councils will meet again, this time alongside state security forces, to discuss the volcanic drill scheduled for 26 September in Garachico.
