IN PICS: Houses destroyed and villages evacuated after Canary Islands volcanic eruption
A volcano in Spain's Canary Islands has destroyed houses, authorities said Monday, as it spewed
lava and ash after coming to life over the weekend and forcing some 5,000 people from their homes.
A surge of lava destroyed around 100 homes on Spain's La Palma island a day after a volcano erupted there, forcing thousands from their homes, local officials said on Monday.
Lava flows approach houses as Mount Cumbre Vieja erupts. Photo: DESIREE MARTIN / AFP
LIVE: Volcano erupts on La Palma in the Canary Islands https://t.co/ewyr5LpSNn
— Reuters (@Reuters) September 19, 2021
Sergio Rodriguez, a local mayor in a nearby village of El Paso said at least 20 homes were completely destroyed by the Cumbre Vieja volcano, which erupted Sunday for the first time in 50 years.
He spoke of the volcano's indiscriminate destruction. "The lava left absolutely nothing in its path", Rodriguez told TVE broadcaster, saying residents were living in uncertainty.
They will "not be going home for a while, most definitely", he added.
Mount Cumbre Vieja volcano on La Palma. Photo: DESIREE MARTIN / AFP
Impresiona, y mucho, ver cómo la lava llega a las casas.#erupcionLaPalma #AnimoLaPalma #Palmeros#CanariasconLaPalma pic.twitter.com/RJGKfUfWGu
— jose luis román díaz (@jlromandiaz) September 19, 2021
Spanish media said as many as 100 homes might have been impacted by the eruption.
The local government predicts that the lava will flow to the southwest, towards more inhabited and wooded areas, before reaching the coast.
As of Sunday, no casualties had so far been reported.
🔴 SUIVI - #Espagne : Des coulées de lave du volcan Cumbre Vieja se dirigent vers la mer, elles ont déjà touché plusieurs maisons de l'île de La Palma aux Canaries. #volcano #volcán #LaPalma #Canarias #CumbreVieja #ErupciónLaPalma pic.twitter.com/37fD3kNuBb
— FranceNews24 (@FranceNews24) September 19, 2021
The interior ministry said 200 members of the security services had been mobilised with a helicopter as back up.
A river of lava approaches houses as Mount Cumbre Vieja erupts in El Paso. Photo: DESIREE MARTIN / AFP
The eruption occurred after an earthquake swarm under La Cumbre Vieja, which began a week ago. Since then, there had been thousands of tremors, the strongest with a magnitude of nearly four, the Involcan vulcanology institute said.
Cumbre Vieja erupted twice in the 20th century, once in 1949 and again in 1971.
READ ALSO: Volcano erupts on Spain’s Canary Islands
Comments
See Also
A surge of lava destroyed around 100 homes on Spain's La Palma island a day after a volcano erupted there, forcing thousands from their homes, local officials said on Monday.
LIVE: Volcano erupts on La Palma in the Canary Islands https://t.co/ewyr5LpSNn
— Reuters (@Reuters) September 19, 2021
Sergio Rodriguez, a local mayor in a nearby village of El Paso said at least 20 homes were completely destroyed by the Cumbre Vieja volcano, which erupted Sunday for the first time in 50 years.
He spoke of the volcano's indiscriminate destruction. "The lava left absolutely nothing in its path", Rodriguez told TVE broadcaster, saying residents were living in uncertainty.
They will "not be going home for a while, most definitely", he added.
Impresiona, y mucho, ver cómo la lava llega a las casas.#erupcionLaPalma #AnimoLaPalma #Palmeros#CanariasconLaPalma pic.twitter.com/RJGKfUfWGu
— jose luis román díaz (@jlromandiaz) September 19, 2021
Spanish media said as many as 100 homes might have been impacted by the eruption.
The local government predicts that the lava will flow to the southwest, towards more inhabited and wooded areas, before reaching the coast.
As of Sunday, no casualties had so far been reported.
🔴 SUIVI - #Espagne : Des coulées de lave du volcan Cumbre Vieja se dirigent vers la mer, elles ont déjà touché plusieurs maisons de l'île de La Palma aux Canaries. #volcano #volcán #LaPalma #Canarias #CumbreVieja #ErupciónLaPalma pic.twitter.com/37fD3kNuBb
— FranceNews24 (@FranceNews24) September 19, 2021
The interior ministry said 200 members of the security services had been mobilised with a helicopter as back up.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.