Coastal towns locked down in La Palma as lava crashes into ocean

MADRID, November 23 (BNA) The authorities on the Spanish island of La Palma ordered residents of three coastal towns to stay indoors on Monday after a fresh stream of lava crashed into the ocean, sending thick clouds of toxic gases into the sky. .

A third tongue of lava from the Cumbre Vieja volcano, which has been erupting for two months, reached the water around midday (12:00 GMT) a few kilometers north where two earlier flows hit the sea, according to Reuters.

Drone footage from the local council showed white clouds rising from the water as red-hot molten rock slid off a cliff in the Atlantic.

Residents of Tazacorte, San Borondon and parts of El Cardón were asked to stay indoors with doors and windows closed as strong winds blew the cloud inward.

Soldiers from the Military Emergency Unit have been deployed to measure the air quality in the area.

Miguel Angel Morquinde, technical director of the Pevolca eruption response committee, said the airport was also closed and was likely to remain so for up to 48 hours due to unfavorable weather conditions.

He said residents of the capital, Santa Cruz, were advised to wear masks for the first time since the eruption began due to the high concentrations of particulate matter and sulfur dioxide in the air.

According to the Copernican Disaster Monitoring Program, lava flows have destroyed about 2,650 structures since September 19, forcing thousands of their homes to evacuate the island, which is part of the Canary Islands archipelago.

HF