Lava from La Palma volcano burns cement plant, prompting lockdown
- Residents in the towns of El Paso and Los Llanos de Aridane were instructed to remain indoors and to shut their windows to avoid inhaling toxic fumes
- The area affected by the lava in the eruption that began on September 19 has expanded 10 per cent overnight, reaching nearly 600 hectares
A stream of red-hot lava gushing from the Cumbre Vieja volcano on the Spanish island of La Palma engulfed a cement plant on Monday, raising a thick cloud of smoke and prompting authorities to order people in the area into lockdown.
The local emergency service instructed residents in the towns of El Paso and Los Llanos de Aridane to remain indoors, and to shut their windows, shades and air conditioning devices to avoid inhaling toxic fumes from the burning plant as it was being gradually swallowed by the lava.
“Lock down, if possible, in the most inner rooms,” the emergency service said via its Twitter account.
Miguel Angel Morcuende, the technical director of the Canary Islands Volcanic Emergency Plan said the fire at the plant had “produced a very dense smoke that sullied the air”.
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Tourists gather on Spain’s La Palma island for volcanic eruption
The area affected by the lava in the eruption that began on September 19 has expanded 10 per cent overnight, reaching nearly 600 hectares (1,500 acres), he said.