Firefighters struggled to contain a blaze that prompted the evacuation of at least 4,000 people on the Spanish island of La Palma, authorities said on Sunday, Reuters reported.

The La Palma fire broke out early Saturday in El Pinar de Puntagorda, a wooded area in the north of the island, prompting the evacuation of people from the villages of Puntagorda and Tijarafe.

Ten air units and 300 ground firefighters were called in to control the vegetation fire on the island, which is part of the Canary archipelago off the west coast of Africa, and which has recorded extreme temperatures similar to those affecting southern Europe.

According to Fernando Clavijo, the president of the Canary Islands, at least 20 houses were destroyed as the fire spread.

“There was some resistance from local residents who did not want to leave their homes, but I urge people to be responsible,” Fernando Clavijo said.

According to the authorities, the fire covered more than 4,650 hectares. In Tenerife, one of eight islands in the Canary Islands archipelago, a wildfire that broke out on Saturday prompted the evacuation of 50 people and destroyed about 60 hectares, authorities said.

King Felipe VI of Spain called President Clavijo to express his support for the people of La Palma, the Spanish royal house said.

The forest fire was the first natural crisis on the island since the volcano erupted in September 2021. More than 2,000 buildings were destroyed and thousands of people were forced from their homes when lava began to pour from the Cumbre Vieja volcano