the volcano has entered its most explosive phase

Authorities initially ordered residents of those towns to stay indoors, but carried out an evacuation due to increased volcanic activity, they said.

Pedro Sánchez today announced a plan to rebuild the island of La Palma (Canary Islands) after the volcano erupted with “immediate” help for those who lost their homes.

The island will be declared in its entirety a “catastrophic zone”, he announced at a press conference in La Palma.

When the eruption, which started last Sunday, ceases, a Reconstruction Plan will be undertaken that will cover urban planning, housing, reconstruction of roads and energy and water supply networks, as well as the implementation a tourism stimulus program.

There will also be labor aid for the agricultural sector, and more particularly for the cultivation of bananas.

According to data obtained by the Copernicus satellite system, 425 buildings were absorbed by the wash.

The affected hectares are 172 and around 5,700 people have been evacuated.

One of the volcano’s two lava flows barely moves and the other moves at around 12 meters per hour.