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Cumbre Vieja is one of the most active volcanic areas on the Spanish islands. The last eruption was in 1971.
As the authorities began to evacuate, a volcano on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands of Spain erupted and lava jetted into the air and flowed to nearby villages in the southern part of the island.
According to the government, the eruption started on a wooded slope in Cumbre Vieja National Park at 3:15 pm (14:15 GMT) on Sunday.
Cumbre Vieja is one of the most active volcanic areas in the Canary Islands. The eruption occurred after a week of seismic activity accumulated, prompting the authorities to evacuate thousands of people from nearby settlements.
As night fell, the video showed lava fountains shooting into the sky hundreds of meters high, and at least three hot orange lava rivers pouring down from the mountains, tearing wounds in the woods and farmland, and spreading as they reached the lowlands.
A small stream hundreds of meters long and tens of meters wide crossed a road and began to engulf the scattered houses of the evacuated El Paso Village. Reuters was unable to confirm that video clips shared on social media showed lava entering the house.
“When the volcano erupted today, I was very scared. For the reporter, it was a spectacular thing. For us, it was a tragedy. I think the lava has reached some relatives’ houses,” said Isabel, a 55-year-old local resident. Fuentes told Spanish television station TVE.
The last eruption was in 1971.
“When the volcano erupted last time, I was five years old. You will never be able to overcome the eruption,” Fuentes added, saying that for her safety, she moved to another house on Sunday.
Residents watch lava after a volcanic eruption in Cumbre Vieja National Park in El Paso, La Palma, Canary Island [Borja Suarez/Reuters]‘Stay in your house’
The President of the Canary Islands, Angel Victor Torres, said at a press conference on Sunday night that 5,000 people have been evacuated and no injuries have been reported so far.
“It is unforeseeable that others will have to evacuate. The lava is moving toward the coast and the damage will be significant. According to experts, there are approximately 17-20 million cubic meters (55.7-65 cubic feet) of lava,” he said.
Airport operator Aena said that flights to and from the Canary Islands are still going on as usual.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez postponed a trip to the United Nations to La Palma, the northwestern island of the archipelago, which arrived on Sunday night.
“We have all the resources (to deal with the volcanic eruption) and all the troops, and citizens can sit back and relax,” he said.
Stavros Meletlidis, an expert on volcanology at the Spanish Institute of Geography, said that the eruption had torn five holes in the hillside and he was not sure how long it would last.
“We have to measure lava every day, which will help us solve problems.”
According to the Spanish National Geographic Institute (ING), the earliest recorded eruption of La Palma was in 1430.
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