The wild fires which devastated La Palma have shown that an emergency action plan is desperately needed.

Huge areas of the island were scorched and homes and businesses destroyed as flames were fuelled by soaring temperatures and strong wind. Thousands of people, including tourists, had to be evacuated and it's predicted that it will take La Palma more than a year fully to recover.
Authorities now say a full emergency action plan must be drawn up to deal with any eventuality, man-made or natural.
It could be an accident or an incident involving dangerous substances or a flood, another fire or storm.
Volcanic activity also has to be considered because La Palma recorded the most recent case within the Canary Islands in 1971. There is not thought to be an imminent risk of a volcanic eruption but the action plan would need to cover this.
Floods could also present a risk to precipices and basins and could also create landslides.
Appears in fortnightly edition 383 Tenerife News