Toxic gases-induced lockdown ends for thousands of Spain’s La Palma residents
Santa Cruz de La Palma, Oct 12 (EFE).- Some 3,000 residents of La Palma were allowed to leave their houses on Tuesday, a day after the authorities on the Spanish Canary island ordered them into lockdown to avoid inhaling toxic fumes.
People in the towns of El Paso and Los Llanos de Aridane were told to stay indoors after lava flowing from the Cumbre Vieja volcano scorched a cement factory, resulting in a thick plume of smoke.
The authorities then reversed the measure after the air quality was evaluated.
La Palma airport was operational Tuesday; however, 11 flights were canceled or delayed, sources from the Spanish Airports and Air Navigation (AENA) told Efe.
The volcano in the south of the island erupted on September 19 for the first time in 50 years.
Since the beginning of the eruption, the lava flows have devoured hundreds of houses on the island and caused huge damage to agriculture and infrastructure there.
La Palma Island has been the site of seven of the 16 volcanic eruptions the archipelago has experienced since record-keeping began after the conquest of the Canaries in the 15th century.EFE
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