People have been evacuated again in La Palma due to lava flows threatening to engulf homes on the Spanish island. About 300 people were ordered to leave their homes, bringing the total since the volcanic eruption to more than 7,000.
At the same time, about a hundred earthquakes were recorded, RTVE TV channel reported. One had a magnitude of 4.5 on the Richter scale, the strongest since the volcano erupted on September 19.
Since the northern flank of the volcanic cone Saturday collapsed Lava flows towards the sea along and through populated areas. The lava that comes out of the volcano is about 1,200 degrees hotter than before, and therefore somewhat thinner and faster. 1,548 buildings have been destroyed so far and cover an area of 680 hectares with lava and ash. No injuries were reported due to the timely evacuation.
• How does lava in the sea create new land?
The airport on the island is still operating, but is served by only a few airlines. Air traffic to the most popular tourist destinations of the Canary Islands, Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote is normal.
