Tourists Flees As Fire Engulfs Gran Canaria Water Park

Tourists relaxing in Gran Canaria ‘ran for their lives’ from a water park when a fire broke out at a nearby restaurant causing smoke to billow uncontrollably.

Dramatic footage shows families, some with young children, sprinting to get taxis as they left Aqualand in the resort of Maspalomas.

They covered their faces to avoid inhaling thick plumes of black smoke rising into the air, the shocking video shows.

Intense smoke was visible from several miles away and people raised the alarm meaning firefighters, police and paramedics were quick on the scene.

One person was treated for burns according to local media.

A British tourist in just her swimming costume could be heard asking a taxi driver to stop.

The water park was evacuated due to its proximity to the blaze, which broke out yesterday just before 5.30pm at a restaurant called La Perla.

One tourist in the water park, Jorge Rodriguez said: ‘We were able to leave very quickly thanks to the technical and personnel team.’

A spokesman for the fire brigade said an accumulation of rubbish inside the building made the fire spread rapidly.

Fifteen cars parked near the restaurant are said to have been affected by flames.

Watch video…

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/video/news/video-1975798/Video-Fire-engulfs-Gran-Canaria-water-park-black-smoke.html

A witness told how he could hear blasts as the fire engulfed the restaurant, thought to have been caused by gas bottles exploding.

The restaurant where the fire broke out is closed to the public at the moment.

Local officials have confirmed none of the holidaymakers evacuated from Aqualand Maspalomas needed medical assistance.

A spokesman for a regional emergency services coordinator said yesterday: ‘Firefighters are still at the scene.

‘They have indicated the blaze is under control. They are continuing to work on putting it out together with the rest of the emergency services.’

‘An ambulance has assisted a man who suffered minor burns. The people evacuated from the water park have not needed medical assistance.