- Title: La Palma worshippers attend mass as volcano eruption enters seventh day
- Date: 26th September 2021
- Summary: VARIOUS OF PRIEST FERNANDO HOLDING MASS, FAITHFUL ATTENDING MASS
- Embargoed: 10th October 2021 13:30
- Keywords: La Palma Spain church mass volcano
- Location: LA PALMA, SPAIN
- City: LA PALMA, SPAIN
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Disaster/Accidents,Europe,Earthquakes/Volcanoes/Tsunami
- Reuters ID: LVA002EWCX5XJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Worshippers gathered for mass in volcano-struck La Palma on Sunday (September 26) as island faces swathes of land and buildings enveloped by lava and flights cancelled due to ash clouds.
Dozens attended the mass held by Father Fernando in the chapel of the Holy Family Of Nazareth College in the town of Los Llanos de Aridane.
"Everything is easier when you have faith," said resident Cesar Rodriguez.
"We come with the intention to pray for the people who are suffering, and to thank God that we are not in that situation," said Mexican national Magali Zarate, who was on holidays visiting friends and could not return home as flights were cancelled.
Workers struggled on Sunday to clean the ash and volcanic dust outside the church, which forced the mass to be moved to the college.
The eruption has destroyed hundreds of houses and forced the evacuation of nearly 6,000 people since it began on Sept. 19.
On Sunday, Spain's airport operator Aena said La Palma's airport had reopened after teams cleared ash off the runway. But Binter, the Canary Island airline, said it will keep flights cancelled today because of the conditions.
No fatalities or serious injuries have been reported in the volcano's eruption, but about 15% of the island's economically crucial banana crop could be at risk, jeopardising thousands of jobs.
(Production: Marco Trujillo, Elena Rodriguez) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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