Spain's Canary Island volcano erupts, thousands evacuated

A volcano on Spain's Atlantic Ocean island of La Palma erupted on September 19 after a weeklong buildup of seismic activity, prompting authorities to speed up evacuations for 1,000 people as lava flows crept toward isolated homes on the mountainside. Huge red plumes topped with black-and-white smoke shot out along the volcanic ridge that scientists had been closely following the accumulation of molten lava below the surface and days of small earthquakes.

A volcano on Spain's Atlantic Ocean island of La Palma erupted on September 19 after a weeklong buildup of seismic activity, prompting authorities to speed up evacuations for 1,000 people as lava flows crept toward isolated homes on the mountainside. Credit: Reuters Photo

The Canary Islands Volcanology Institute reported the eruption on Cumbre Vieja, which last erupted in 1971.

The explosion took place in an area known as Cabeza de Vaca on the western slope of the volcanic ridge as it descends to the coast. Tinges of red could be seen at the bottom of the black jets that shot rocks into the air. Credit: Reuters Photo

Lava flows downhill following the eruption of a volcano in the Cumbre Vieja national park at El Paso, on the Canary Island of La Palma. Credit: Reuters Photo

One black lava flow with a burning tip was sliding toward some houses in the village of El Paso. Credit: Reuters Photo

Mayor Sergio Rodriguez said 300 people in immediate danger had been evacuated from their homes and sent to the El Paso soccer field. Credit: Reuters Photo

Also, the roads were closed due to the explosion and authorities urged the curious not to approach the area. Credit: Reuters Photo

Lava flows downhill following the eruption of a volcano in the Cumbre Vieja national park at El Paso, on the Canary Island of La Palma. Credit: Reuters Photo

A 3.8-magnitude quake was recorded before the eruption as vibrations from the seismic activity were felt on the surface. Credit: Reuters Photo