Hundreds more evacuations on volcano island
HUNDREDS of people were evacuated on Wednesday night on the Spanish island of La Palma, as a river of molten rock crept deeper into a coastal town during a protracted volcanic eruption.
Emergency services helped around 500 people leave their homes, said the mayor of Tazacorte, Juan Miguel Rodriguez.
Around 7,500 people have been forced to flee since Cumbre Vieja began erupting more than a month ago. Scientists say the eruption could go on for three months.
The tension of not knowing whether the slow-moving molten rock would entomb their homes, farmland and businesses is taking a toll on local people, Mr Rodriguez said. “There is already a certain degree of despondency and desperation, waiting for the volcano to subside,” he said.
Though most of the island of 85,000 people off north-west Africa is unaffected by the eruption, part of the western side has seen the lava ruin livelihoods and destroy homes. The molten rock has covered more than 2,100 acres and crushed or damaged around 2,185 buildings. The volcano’s constant roar and numerous earthquakes have also kept locals on edge.
Meanwhile, three dogs which have been left stranded on the volcano for weeks may be rescued by a remotecontrolled drone.
A drone operator has been granted permission to attempt to save the three malnourished dogs. For weeks, the poor dogs have been stranded in an abandoned yard, covered in volcanic ash and surviving on food packages sent to them by drones.
Hot gas surrounding the area has made it impossible to fly helicopters.