Volcano erupts on Atlantic island; lava destroys some homes

By JONATHAN RODRÍGUEZ and JOSEPH WILSON
Associated Press

LOS LLANOS DE ARIDANE, Spain (AP) — A volcano on Spain’s Atlantic Ocean island of La Palma has erupted after a weeklong buildup of seismic activity, prompting authorities to evacuate thousands of residents. Lava flows have destroyed some isolated houses and threaten to reach coastal towns. Huge plumes of black-and-white smoke shot out from a volcanic ridge where scientists had been closely following the accumulation of molten lava below the surface. Officials say 5,000 people were evacuated by late Sunday. La Palma has a population of 85,000 and is one of eight islands in Spain’s Canary Islands archipelago. The last volcanic eruption on the island was 50 years ago and lasted three weeks.