5,000 flee Canary Island volcano that could spew lava for MONTHS
DEVASTATING rivers of lava have sent more than 5,000 tourists and residents fleeing after a volcano erupted for the first time in 50 years in the Canary Islands.
Scientists say the 1000C magma flowing through the Spanish resort island of La Palma could last for months.
The eruption on the mountain range Cumbre Vieja left black swathes of destruction through the sparsely populated, green countryside and destroyed around 100 houses. In all, eight rivers of lava 20ft high are moving at about 700 yards an hour. When they hit the cold Atlantic water, explosions and clouds of acidic steam are expected.