Violent Clash Erupts at Informal Settlement in Southern Tenerife
A violent clash between a local resident and a visitor at an informal settlement in Arona, Tenerife, has highlighted growing instability in the area following recent police efforts to census its occupants.
Tensions in southern Tenerife’s informal settlements have flared again following a violent clash last Friday at the Los Vivitos site in Arona. The incident, which required three Local Police units to intervene, underscores the growing instability in an area recently targeted by security operations.
The dispute began around 5:30 p.m. when a 43-year-old man from San Isidro drove to the settlement, located near the Malpaso ravine and the Valle San Lorenzo road. A 35-year-old resident of the settlement confronted the driver, mistakenly believing he intended to illegally dump waste on the property.
The argument quickly turned physical. According to police reports, the resident allegedly threw a stone that struck the driver’s left arm. In retaliation, the driver allegedly hit the resident, causing a facial injury. Both men sustained minor injuries and were identified by officers at the scene.
This violence follows a recent joint operation by the Arona Local Police, the Civil Guard, and the National Police, who conducted an exhaustive inspection of the settlement. Authorities were working to identify and census nearly 100 people living irregularly at the site, highlighting the ongoing challenges of housing and social exclusion in southern Tenerife.