The lava, which is more than 1000 degrees Celsius, makes its way down from the volcano. Over 150 houses have been destroyed so far, more than 100 hectares are already covered with a black, meter-thick layer.
Madrid / La Palma – The volcanic eruption on the Canary Island of La Palma, which belongs to Spain, is causing ever greater damage. So far, more than 160 buildings have been destroyed by the lava, reported the state TV broadcaster RTVE.
More than 100 hectares are already covered with a black meter-thick layer of around 1000 degrees hot lava, which now emerges from nine chimneys in the area of the Cumbre Vieja in the south of the island. According to the civil defense, the number of evacuees has risen to almost 6,000. Most of them were reportedly staying with relatives or taken in private homes in other parts of the island. The authorities emphasized that there are still no injuries.
The lava was expected to reach the west coast of the small island in the Atlantic during the day. The authorities warned that toxic gases would be produced if the lava around the scorching hot lava fell into the sea. This not only results in an explosive evaporation of seawater, but also when the lava comes into contact with the salty water, hydrochloric acid and fine volcanic crystals are formed. These can cause irritation to the skin, eyes and respiratory tract. However, the various lava flows had slowed down, so it was unclear when exactly they would reach the coast.
The volcano became active again on Sunday for the first time in 50 years. Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who actually wanted to travel to the UN General Assembly in New York, had flown to La Palma instead, where he promised unbureaucratic help to those affected.
La Palma is located in the north-west of the Canary Islands, an archipelago of volcanic origin in the Atlantic off the west coast of Africa. It is 85 kilometers from the nearest larger island of Tenerife, which is also very popular with German tourists, and 57 kilometers from La Gomera. Mass tourism like on the better known Canary Islands Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote does not exist on La Palma. dpa
