VOLCANO ERUPTS ON SPANISH ISLAND, THOUSANDS FLEE.
LA PALMA Lava flowing from the Canary Islands' first volcanic eruption in 50 years has forced the evacuation of 5,500 people and destroyed at least 100 houses, authorities said.
The flow of molten rock was expected to reach the coast later on Monday, potentially triggering more explosions, and the volcano itself would remain active for days.
The volcano erupted on Sunday, shooting lava hundreds of metres into the air, engulfing forests and sending molten rock towards the Atlantic Ocean over a sparsely populated area of La Palma, the northwesternmost island in the Canaries archipelago.
No fatalities or injuries have been reported but drone footage captured two tongues of black lava cutting a devastating swathe through the landscape as they advanced down towards the sea.
Authorities have not given an updated tally of how many properties have been destroyed since the head of La Palma's local government gave an estimate of 100 early on Monday.
Regional leader Angel Victor Torres said the damage would be substantial.
“It was horrible,” said Eva, a 53-year old tourist from Austria. “We felt the earthquake, it started in the morning ... Then at 3 in the afternoon the lady from our house came and said you have to pack everything and leave quickly.”
“We're happy to go home now,” she said at the airport.
Tourism Minister Reyes Maroto said the eruption was “a wonderful show” which would attract tourists — comments that were criticized when many residents have lost their homes.