4,000 displaced by wildfire on Holiday Island in Canary Island( photos)

Around 4,000 people have been evacuated as wildfires rips through Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands.

The fire, which started on Saturday, is advancing on two fronts in a mountainous area of the island.

Ten planes and helicopters, as well as about 700 firefighters on the ground including 200 from the military, are fighting the flames.

Efforts to tackle the fires are being hampered by high temperatures, strong winds and low humidity.

Canary Islands regional president Angel Victor Torres at a news conference said the fire is not contained, stabilized or controlled, adding that requests for assistance had been made to the Spanish central government.

The fire started near the town of Tejeda.

Around 1,700 hectares (4,200 acres) have been destroyed and 11 roads have been closed.

Hundreds of people were evacuated due to separate wildfires on the holiday island last week.