Photos show a volcanic eruption engulfing the countryside in La Palma, a popular resort island in the Canary Islands

Matthew LohSep 20, 2021, 14:02 IST

Lava flows seen from a house in La Palma after an eruption on Sunday.Borja Suarez/REUTERS

A volcano on the resort island of La Palma erupted on Sunday, prompting the evacuation of 5,000 people.
Photos show waves of molten lava flowing down the countryside.
This is the first volcanic eruption in 50 years in La Palma, part of Spain's Canary Islands in the Atlantic.

The Cumbre Vieja volcano on the Spanish resort island of La Palma erupted on Sunday for the first time in 50 years, leading to the evacuation of thousands of people.

The Canary islands are about 67 miles off the northwest coast of Africa. La Palma is one of the smaller islands in the archipelago. Screenshot/Google Maps

Authorities first confirmed the eruption at 3:12 p.m.

Smoke columns and plumes of ash can be seen in the distance. DESIREE MARTIN/AFP via Getty Images

The eruption has sent lava edging through surrounding forests.

The volcanic eruption in La Palma on Sunday night. FORTA/Handout via REUTERS

Resident Carlota Martín told the AP she heard a huge explosion while she was at her family's agricultural plot downhill from the eruption.

Fissures started launching lava hundreds of feet into the sky DESIREE MARTIN/AFP via Getty Images

Authorities started sending reinforcements from larger islands to help with evacuations.

Spanish Civil Guard officers watch from afar as lava bursts into the air. Andres Gutierrez/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Authorities have closed off nearby roads and urged the public not to approach the lava flows.

Authorities evacuated thousands and closed off nearby roads Europa Press via Getty Images

Four villages were evacuated a few hours after the initial eruption, per Reuters.

Lava streams began pouring down to nearby villages. DESIREE MARTIN/AFP via Getty Images

By nightfall, bright orange molten trails enveloped the hillside.

The eruption continued into the night. Desiree Martin/AFP via Getty Images

Canary Islands president Angel Victor Torres said at a press conference that between 600 million to 700 million cubic feet of lava has emerged so far from the eruption.

Authorities said millions of cubic feet of lava have emerged from the eruption FORTA/Handout via REUTERS

The last time the volcano erupted was in 1971.

Lava flows next to a house in El Paso. Borja Suarez/REUTERS

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