A volcano on Spain's Atlantic Ocean island of La Palma erupted Sunday after a week-long buildup of seismic activity, prompting authorities to speed up evacuations for 1000 people as lava flows crept toward isolated mountain homes.
The Canary Islands Volcanology Institute reported the eruption near the southern end of the island, which saw its last eruption in 1971. Huge red plumes topped with black-and-white smoke shot out along the Cumbre Vieja volcanic ridge, which scientists had been closely watching following the accumulation of molten lava below the surface and days of small earthquakes.
La Palma, with a population of 85,000, is one of eight islands in Spain's Canary Islands archipelago off Africa's western coast. At their nearest point, they are 100 kilometres from Morocco.
It has been theorised that an eruption at Cumbre Vieja could lead to a landslide, which could create a mega-tsunami that would hit coasts around the Atlantic. That theory, first suggested 20 years ago, was followed by further research which suggested that a massive tsunami was unlikely, even in the event of a collapse.
A 4.2-magnitude quake was recorded before the volcanic eruption, which took place in an area known as Cabeza de Vaca on the western slope as the ridge descends to the coast. Tinges of red could be seen at the bottom of the black jets that shot rocks into the air.
