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For several weeks the Cumbre Vieja has been spitting lava and ash on La Palma
Photo:
JUAN MEDINA / REUTERS
Several pets trapped by lava on the volcanic island of La Palma have been supplied from the air for days.
Two companies would use a drone to bring the animals food and water every day, the island administration said on Tuesday.
For this, the electronics company Ticom Soluciones and the tour operator Volcanic Life deserve the thanks of the island government, emphasized the commissioner for safety and emergencies, Nieves Rosa Arroyo.
The animals, including a white cat, were discovered five days ago by a drone with a camera, among other things in an empty water basin.
They cannot be reached by land because of the extremely hot lava around them.
800 more people evacuated
The volcano Cumbre Vieja in the south of the island of La Palma, which was previously less known to tourists than other Canary Islands such as Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria or Lanzarote, erupted on September 19th for the first time in 50 years.
According to official reports, lava has destroyed more than 1,000 buildings since then.
Around 6,000 people were brought to safety.
On Tuesday, up to 800 more people had to leave their homes because of the approaching lava.
A curfew had already been imposed on around 3,000 residents of the island on Monday.
The authorities pointed to the destruction of a cement factory by the volcanic eruption.
"We have decided that the residents have to stay at home until we can analyze whether the air quality allows a normal life," said the head of the emergency commission, Miguel Ángel Morcuende.
Experts cannot say how long the volcano would remain active.
It could take weeks or months.
You can follow the outbreak live here.
sol / dpa / afp
