NEWS FROM TENERIFE (#27)

News from Tenerife (#27) is published every week as a short news overview of the past week on your favorite website.

In this series, we publish a number of events and news facts from the past week. Each article inNews from Tenerifeis a synthesis of several facts, actions, and occurrences that are too short to be published as a full-fledged article.

Work for the Fire Department
News from Tenerife #27/1

Firefighting units from Tenerife, stationed in La Laguna, were activated yesterday by the Tenerife Fire Department Coordination Center through the emergency number 112. Due to heavy rainfall in the metropolitan area of the island, firefighters had to respond to dozens of calls.

Firefighters from the La Laguna and Santa Cruz stations, along with volunteers from Tegueste and San Cristóbal de La Laguna, were called out between 7:00 p.m. and midnight to pump water out of various homes in the areas of Tegueste, Tejina, and Valle Guerra.

At 4:00 p.m., they were already deployed for another rescue operation on Monte de Aguirre, together with environmental officers from the municipality of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Around 8:00 p.m., the team from La Laguna was called upon to rescue some hikers who had been trapped by the rain on the trail between Cruz del Carmen and La Punta.

Firefighters from Icod de Los Vinos also had to respond to incidents. Around 7:00 a.m., they were dispatched to a traffic accident on the TF-5 near Barranco Ruiz. Upon arrival, it was discovered that the two vehicles involved had collided with a large boulder that had fallen onto the road. The area was secured, the vehicles’ batteries were disconnected, and the firefighters assisted in clearing the roadway.

A traffic accident in Costa del Silencio (municipality of Arona) caused quite a stir when a 21-year-old driver lost control of his vehicle around 11:30 p.m. and crashed into three parked cars on Calle Minerva, at the intersection with Calle Perseo.

Fortunately, there were no injuries. Both the driver, a Spaniard of Moroccan descent, and his passenger, a 21-year-old Italian man, were unharmed.

A breathalyzer test performed on the driver returned a negative result, ruling out alcohol as a factor. However, based on their findings, the officers determined that the driver had been speeding, which caused him to lose control of the vehicle and led to the collision. The driver is now facing charges of reckless driving, not only for the collision with three parked cars but also for the danger he posed to road safety in the area. Despite the severity of the accident, there were no casualties.

African Slug Poses Threat
News from Tenerife #27/2

The presence of the African brown slug (Laevicaulis alte) in the Canary Islands has raised concerns, particularly due to the impact this invasive species can have on agricultural crops and natural habitats. This species has so far only been observed in garden areas in the south of Tenerife.

The Red Canaria de Alerta Temprana de Especies Exóticas Invasoras (RedEXOS) issued an official warning this week regarding the presence of this mollusk on the island. The public has been urged to assist in identifying and reporting this intruder.

RedEXOS aims to detect, identify, analyze, control, or eradicate new outbreaks or populations of invasive alien species across the islands, thus preventing their spread. So far, 14 reports of this slug have been received in the region via their app.

The African brown slug is relatively large, measuring between 7 and 10 centimeters, with some reaching up to 12 cm. It can weigh more than 3 grams. Adult specimens are black with a thin brown line running along the body. Younger slugs are more whitish in color. The slug has a rough appearance and two short tentacles with eyes at the tips, which are rarely fully visible. They pose a threat to agriculture and endanger crop production on the islands.

Anyone who spots a specimen of Laevicaulis alte can report it via the RedEXOS app, the RedEXOS website, by calling: +34 646 601 457 or via email: redexos.medioambiente@gobiernodecanarias.org. Early detection and rapid response are essential to stop this pest in time and prevent further damage to the environment and agriculture in the Canary Islands.

ITER Optimizes Wind Farm with Artificial Intelligence
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On April 13, 2025, the Instituto Tecnológico y de Energías Renovables (ITER), an institution under the Cabildo Insular de Tenerife, in collaboration with the Polytechnic University of Valencia, launched a digital platform for visualization and analysis. This enables them to monitor in real time the condition and performance of wind turbines in their wind farms. The platform serves as a tool to manage operational data more efficiently and will eventually integrate information generated by advanced sensors from the AERO-TWIN system. The main goal of this initiative is to develop a comprehensive monitoring system for wind turbines based on non-intrusive sensors, digital twins, and artificial intelligence techniques, which can detect possible component failures, predict their evolution, and optimize maintenance.

ITER has designed a system for collecting, storing, and visualizing data that allows real-time monitoring of various parameters of some of its wind turbines, such as wind speed, energy production, or operational status. This information is centralized on a digital platform where it can be visually consulted through graphs and indicators that facilitate the detection of anomalies or technical issues.

In the coming months, sensors developed by the UPV will be installed and integrated. These will provide a more complete picture of the operational condition of a wind turbine. Once the AERO-TWIN system is fully operational, ITER’s visualization platform will integrate data generated by these advanced sensors, allowing for even more precise monitoring of the condition and performance of the wind turbines. The advantages of this technology include continuous monitoring, advanced data analysis, and predictive maintenance. Continuous monitoring allows the status and performance of the wind turbines to be known at all times.
Thanks to advanced data analysis, the platform provides a visual interpretation of the information, enabling the detection of behavioral patterns and potential anomalies. Finally, through early detection of possible failures, it enables optimized maintenance and extends the lifespan of the equipment.

Damage During Rally Accident
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The 41st edition of the Rally Norte of Tenerife, held this past weekend, has turned out to be one of the most intense and dangerous in the history of the competition. The unfavorable weather conditions, with continuous rainfall and dense fog, transformed the roads in the north of the island into a high-risk area for drivers.

One of the most dramatic moments of the rally occurred when the car driven by Yeray Lemes veered off the road and crashed with great force into an old house in the La Vega neighborhood, resulting in a partial collapse of the building. Just minutes earlier, on the exact same stretch, Russian driver Alexey Lukyanuk — who was leading the race at that point — lost control of his vehicle due to aquaplaning and also crashed into a house. Both drivers were forced to withdraw from the competition.

This rally has left behind some striking images and highlights the importance of solid preparation and caution under difficult weather conditions. Following a debriefing, the organizers and teams have already begun working on measures to improve safety for future editions.