Cumbre Vieja volcano
Thousands evacuated, houses destroyed as volcanic eruption in Spanish island enters 'new explosive phase'
La Palma: Cumbre Vieja volcano in Spain's La Palma started emitting red hot lava as it entered a new explosive phase on Saturday after erupting last Sunday, according to media reports.
A new emission vent opened in the volcano next to the principal vent, said The Canary Islands Volcanology Institute.
"It is not unusual in this type of eruption that the cone of the volcano fractures. A crater is formed that does not support its own weight and the cone breaks," Miguel Angel Morcuende, director of volcano response committee Pevolca, told a news conference on Saturday, reported Reuters.
This partial rupture happened overnight.
Morcuende said the ongoing evacuations would be continued for another 24 hours as a precaution.
Hundreds of houses have been destroyed and nearly 6,000 people have been evacuated since it began erupting last Sunday, the report said.
La Palma has a population of over 83,000. La Palma is one of the most western and smallest of the Canary Islands in the Atlantic.
Spanish airport operator Aena said the island's airport had closed, said the report.
"La Palma airport is inoperative due to ash accumulation. Cleaning tasks have started, but the situation may change at any time," it tweeted.
The Canary Islands Volcano Institute has suggested the eruption could last between 24 and 84 days, reported BBC.
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