(ANSA) - MADRID, 20 SEP - The Spanish authorities have evacuated the inhabitants of about forty houses in Tazacorte, a municipality on the island of La Palma (Canary Islands) considered at risk for the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano: therefore, about 5,500 are already displaced since the beginning of the emergency, according to the latest bulletin from the Canary Islands regional government.
No casualties have been reported to date.
Meanwhile, lava flows that began to flow out of the volcano more than 24 hours ago are slowly approaching the sea, overwhelming everything in front of them: more than 100 houses and some roads and other infrastructures are damaged, as well as numerous cultivated land. Fear, uncertainty and a sense of helplessness are the feelings most frequently expressed to the local media by the people in the area. Some already know they have lost their homes or other properties.
Estimates provided by experts to local authorities indicate that contact between the lava and seawater could occur in the next few hours: in this case, it is believed possible that explosions or gas emissions will occur.
The authorities have established a security perimeter with a radius of two kilometers around the points where the volcanic erupts, recommending not to enter the forbidden zone to avoid dangers.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez began a reconnaissance tour of the areas affected by the eruption in the afternoon, the Spanish media reported. (HANDLE).
