A volcanic eruption on the Spanish island of La Palma caused
local authorities to evacuate thousands, but no injuries were
reported, according to The New York Times.
The island, one of Spain's Canary Islands located off the coast
of Africa, has about 85,000 residents. It was the island's first
volcanic eruption in in 50 years.
Authorities planned to evacuate 5,000 to 10,000 people living in
villages on the edge of La Cumbre Vieja national park because
ash and lava from the eruption posed a threat to their safety.
Videos posted to social media showed homes surrounded by lava,
and plumes of thick smoke billowing into the sky.
The island was on alert prior to the eruption, as several
earthquakes had occurred in the area in the days prior, with the
largest registering as a 4.2 on the Richter Scale, according to
CNN.
Island residents who would need assistance with evacuating,
including those with disabilities, were preemptively moved from
the area prior to the eruption. Hiking trails surrounding the
volcano had also been closed as a precaution.
"We call on people to exercise extreme caution and to stay away
from the eruption area in order to avoid unnecessary risks," the
local government tweeted on Sunday, noted CNN. "Likewise, it is
very important to keep roads clear so that they can be used by
our land operatives."
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Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez reportedly postponed his
trip to New York for the United Nations general assembly
meeting, instead opting to visit La Palma in the wake of the
eruption.
"I am at the moment heading to the Canary Islands because of the
seismic evolution, to see first-hand the situation in La Palma,
the coordination of the means and the protocols that have been
activated," Sánchez tweeted Sunday.
https://thehill.com/homenews/news/572959-canary-island-volcano-
eruption-spurs-mass-evacuation