- Title: Lava flows into the sea throughout the night on La Palma
- Date: 29th September 2021
- Summary: LA PALMA, SPAIN (SEPTEMBER 29, 2021) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SMOKE RISING AS LAVA HITS THE SEA COASTGUARD BOAT AT SEA VARIOUS OF SMOKE RISING AS LAVA HITS THE SEA EMERGENCY SERVICE VEHICLES PATROLLING COASTLINE VARIOUS OF SMOKE RISING AS LAVA HITS THE SEA COASTGUARD BOAT AT SEA SMOKE RISING FROM LAVA VARIOUS OF EMERGENCY SERVICE VEHICLES PATROLLING COASTLINE VOLCANIC ERUPTION (LEFT) WITH LAVA FLOWING INTO THE SEA (RIGHT) WITH STREET LIGHTS OF NEARBY TOWN VISIBLE VARIOUS OF SMOKE RISING AS LAVA HITS THE SEA LAVA FLOWING INTO THE SEA WITH STREET LIGHTS OF NEARBY TOWN
- Embargoed: 13th October 2021 04:24
- Keywords: Atlantic Ocean Canary Islands Cumbre Vieja La Palma Spain Volcano lava ocean sea
- Location: LA PALMA, SPAIN
- City: LA PALMA, SPAIN
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Disaster/Accidents,Europe,Earthquakes/Volcanoes/Tsunami,Editors' Choice
- Reuters ID: LVA001EWRV70N
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Red hot lava from a volcano that devastated the Spanish island of La Palma reached the Atlantic Ocean late on Tuesday (September 28) evening, nine days after it started to flow down the mountain, wrecking buildings and destroying crops.
Reuters images showed big clouds of white steam billowing up from the Playa Nueva area as the lava made contact with the ocean.
Officials said the lava flowing into the sea could trigger explosions and clouds of toxic gases and the Canary Islands' emergency service urged those outdoors to immediately find a safe place to shelter.
No injuries have been reported.
Lava has been flowing down the Cumbre Vieja volcano's western flank toward the sea since September 19, destroying almost 600 houses and banana plantations in La Palma, which neighbours Tenerife in the Canary Islands archipelago off the North African coast.
Thousands of people have been evacuated and three coastal villages were locked down on Monday (September 27) in anticipation of the lava meeting the Atlantic Ocean.
Spain classified La Palma as a disaster zone on Tuesday, a move that will trigger financial support for the island.
The government announced a first package of 10.5 million euros ($12.3 million), which includes around 5 million euros to buy houses, with the rest to acquire furniture and essential household goods, government spokesperson Isabel Rodriguez said.
(Production: Marco Trujillo, Ben Dangerfield) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2021. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None