Lava flowing from Cumbre Vieja, an erupting volcano on the Spanish island of La Palma, reached the sea last night, spreading outward and expanding the area of the island by several hundred acres. Residents who had not already evacuated were told to shelter indoors to avoid any potential poisonous gases that might be formed as the lava interacts with seawater. Cumbre Vieja has been erupting since September 19, and officials warn that it could continue for several months, based on previous eruptions. So far, hundreds of houses and large portions of several banana plantations have been destroyed.
Photos: Lava Reaches the Sea on the Island of La Palma
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This combination of pictures shows the buildup of lava expelled by the Cumbre Vieja volcano, first seen on September 19, 2021, the day it began erupting (left), and the same scene seen days later, on September 25, 2021, viewed from Los Llanos de Aridane. #
Desiree Martin / AFP / Getty -
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Jorge, a farmer from La Palma, harvests sweet potatoes, the only undamaged produce from his ash-covered plot of land, as ash from the Cumbre Vieja volcano rises in the sky in Los Llanos de Aridane on September 25, 2021. #
Desiree Martin / AFP / Getty -
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