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A new river of lava erupted from the La Palma volcano on Saturday, wreaking more destruction on the island in the Atlantic Ocean where more than 1,000 buildings have already been engulfed or severely damaged by streams of molten rock.
The partial collapse of the volcanic cone overnight gave rise to a new lava stream which began to follow a similar path along the Cumbre Vieja ridge towards the western shore of the island to the ocean.
Authorities said the new lava flow is in the area that was hastily evacuated after the September 19 eruption, when 6,000 residents were forced to flee their homes and farms.
Police have left residents whose homes may now be in danger to take trips to save what they can. The trucks entered the exclusion zone empty on Saturday and left with mattresses, furniture and other personal effects.
Emergency official Miguel Ángel Morcuende said experts have been closely monitoring the emerging new land delta off the island’s coast since the main lava flow hit the sea last week.
He said parts could collapse, causing explosions and big waves, but that would not pose a danger since the immediate area was already evacuated.
A total of 1,186 buildings were destroyed in La Palma and 497 hectares (1,228 acres) were covered in lava on Saturday, according to the European Union’s Copernicus emergency management service.
La Palma airport was operational again after being closed for several days due to volcanic ash.
The island is part of the Spanish Canary Islands, an archipelago off the coast of northwest Africa that is a popular holiday destination for European tourists.
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