Source: TRTWorld and agencies

The Cumbre Vieja volcano is seen from Los Llanos de Aridane on the Canary island of La Palma, September 25, 2021.

Rivers of lava raced down the Cumbre Vieja volcano and exploded high into the air overnight on the Spanish island of La Palma and the airport was closed as an eruption intensified and entered its most explosive phase so far.

Since it began erupting on Sunday on the small island in the Atlantic, volcano has spewed out thousands of tons of lava, destroyed hundreds of houses and forced the evacuation of nearly 6,000 people.

Authorities said on Saturday that the 160 people evacuated from three more towns on Friday would not be able to return to their homes to retrieve their belongings because of the “evolution of the volcanic emergency”.

Experts said the volcano had entered a new explosive phase.

“Volcanic surveillance measurements carried out since the beginning of the eruption recorded the highest-energy activity so far during Friday afternoon,” emergency services said in a statement on Friday evening.

Spanish airport operator Aena said on Saturday the island’s airport had been closed. “La Palma airport is inoperative due to ash accumulation. Cleaning tasks have started, but the situation may change at any time”.

Adapted from https://www.trtworld.com/europe/la-palma-volcano-eruptionsshut-airport-force-more-evacuations-50241. Access on October 25th, 2021.

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