Saturday. 09.11.2024

Due to encroaching lava, the authorities on the volcanic Canary island of La Palma have ordered the evacuation of a further 300 people from their homes.

This brings the number of evacuees from the island's on-going volcanic eruption to more than 7,000, Spanish state broadcaster RTVE reported on Thursday.

At the same time, another 100 or so light to moderate earthquakes were recorded. One had a magnitude of 4.5, making it the most violent since the volcano began erupting on September 19.

Since the northern flank of the volcano's cone collapsed last Saturday, the flow of lava through inhabited areas towards the sea has intensified.

The escaping lava is also now even hotter than before, at around 1,200 degrees Celsius, as well as thinner and somewhat faster.

680 hectares covered by lava

According to data from the European earth observation system Copernicus, 1,548 buildings have been destroyed by the lava and an area of 680 hectares has been covered by lava and ash. That corresponds to about 950 football fields. No one is believed to have been harmed so far.

The island's airport was still working, according to operator Aena, but was only being served by a few airlines at present.

Air traffic to the other major islands of the Canaries - Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote - is operating normally.

More evacuations from lava flow on La Palma; quakes up to 4.5