Carnaval in Tenerife 2013

[Janet]

The Santa Cruz carnaval is upon us again, and this year the theme is Bollywood. Tenerife's capital's carnival isn't just the largest in Tenerife, it is widely considered to be the second largest in the world, with only the world-famous Rio de Janeiro Carnaval bigger. Although the most famous elements of the festival are the carnival queen and the fancy dress parades, events actually take place over a month, and it all starts today with the murgas competitions: see my post from last year HERE to get a taste of what it's like. The official carnaval site is HERE, and the programme of events is HERE.

The two other Carnavals of great local interest are in Los Cristianos and Puerto de la Cruz. This year, the Los Cristianos Carnaval is between 1 and 11 March (still not on Arona's website), and the Puerto de la Cruz one is between 3 and 24 February (see HERE). There is more information on these and other Carnaval events throughout the Canaries from the official Canary Islands Tourism site HERE. JA

[Janet]

Titsa has published a list of all its special carnaval bus services, perhaps all the more important this year given the threatened tram strike. The list is below, and there's a link on my website HERE for a full size pdf version.

[Janet]

 There was nearly a tragedy in the Santa Cruz carnaval last evening when one of the elaborate dresses, called fantasies, caught fire. It appears to have been connected with the following fantasy's use of either of a flare, or a dry ice mechanism, either way intended to create a smoky atmosphere. Saida Prieto, who was wearing the costume, was rushed to HUC where she needed an emergency three-hour operation for her injuries. Subsequent reports from the hospital suggest that her injuries were even worse than at first thought, that she has suffered burns to 40% of her body, and that at least at one point she could not breathe unaided. She is now said, mercifully, to be out of danger, though is being kept in for observation for 48 hours and it is still possible that she will need to be transferred to a burns unit in Seville. Apparently the two designers of her costume, evidently on hand for final adjustments, were also injured.

There is some degree of outcry today over the use, and authorization for use,  of flares and the like in such proximity to the vast quantities of inflammable fabric and materials routinely used in the creations of these gowns. There is also some criticism that the organizers decided to continue with the gala given the severity of Sra Prieto's injuries; ultimately, anyway, Soraya Rodríguez Castro was selected as Reina del Carnaval de Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2013. She was wearing the fantasy Volare.

This photo is of Saida Prieto (courtesy of the carnaval website), of whom everyone is thinking today, in a shame for the new Carnaval Queen - one reason they perhaps should not have continued the competition.



JA

[Nova]

Customers have been talking about this this morning. The poor girl!  Agreed, they should not have continued. We're not talking a torn dress and a paper cut here, there's no "show must go on" about it.

[Janet]

This is a photo tweeted by José Déniz (@Jose_Deniz) of Saida's costume as it was burning. This is what she was engulfed and trapped in when someone decided the "show must go on".

[Janet]

Saida is indeed being transferred to the specialist burns unit of the Hospital Virgen del Rocío in Seville. Santa Cruz mayor Bermúdez abandoned a press conference earlier and appears to be intending to travel with her. A police escort has been arranged for the ambulance convoy. This is, sadly, looking very serious. Carnaval has been suspended for today, and tomorrow's parade is said to be uncertain.  JA

[Janet]

Saida has begun her transfer to Seville, with hospital sources saying that she has actually suffered burns to more than 50% of her body. Doctor José Luis Iribarren, transplant coordinator in HUC is organizing the transfer along with 112/emergency services.  At present, Saida's ambulance has just arrived at TFN and she is expected to arrive in Seville between 6 and 7pm. As expected, the ambulance covered the distance between the hospital and TFN at full speed with a police escort. Our thoughts and very best wishes go with her. JA

[Nova]

Oh how sad. Keeping everything crossed that she pulls through but I suspect her quality of life may be severely impaired...  I hope proper measures will be taken to make sure this can't happen again.

[Janet]

 Interview HERE (sorry in Spanish only) with the presenter of the carnival queen gala ... who was told to string it out, carry on as normal, and just say there was a technical problem with one candidate.

[Guanche]

A terrible accident occurred last night at the show for the Tenerife Carnival Queen. A poor girl was severely burnt whilst strapped into one of the dresses/platforms. The dress was accidently set alight by another contestant. It's reported that the victim received 40% burns and has been flown to the peninsular fro treatment.