Thousands Flee Cumbre Vieja Volcano in Spain

Published September 20th, 2021 - 07:59 GMT

Horrific graphics and video has been spreading all over the internet as Cumbre Vieja volcano on the Spanish island of La Palma erupts for the first time in five decades.

The Cumbre Vieja volcano, which is located on the Canary Islands, was solid since 1971. According to local Civil Guard police, forces are working to evacuate between 5,000 to 10,000 residents as ashes, spewing lava and smoke cover the Island.

Furthermore, the country's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez cancelled trip to attend the UN General Assembly and instead decided to head to La Palma.

The initial eruption started shortly after 3 p.m. near the southern end of the island, the Canary Islands Volcanology Institute said.

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Mount Cumbre Vieja erupts in El Paso, spewing out columns of smoke, ash and lava as seen from Los Llanos de Aridane on the Canary island of La Palma on September 19, 2021. (Photo by DESIREE MARTIN / AFP)

Mount Cumbre Vieja erupts spewing a column of smoke and ash as seen from Los Llanos de Aridane on the Canary island of La Palma on September 19, 2021. (Photo by DESIREE MARTIN / AFP)

Cumbre Vieja straddles a ridge in the south of La Palma island and has erupted twice in the 20th century, first in 1949 then again in 1971. (Photo by DESIREE MARTIN / AFP)

The Cumbre Vieja volcano erupted on Spain's Canary Islands today spewing out lava, ash and a huge column of smoke after days of increased seismic activity, sparking evacuations of people living nearby, authorities said. Cumbre Vieja straddles a ridge in the south of La Palma island and has erupted twice in the 20th century, first in 1949 then again in 1971. (Photo by DESIREE MARTIN / AFP)

A man takes a picture as lava flows from a volcano into the valley of Natthagi near Mount Fagradalsfjall, southwest of Iceland's capital Reykjavik on August 26, 2021. (Photo by Jeremie RICHARD / AFP)

Mount Cumbre Vieja erupts spewing out a column of smoke, ash and lava as seen from Los Llanos de Aridane on the Canary island of La Palma on September 19, 2021. (DESIREE MARTIN / AFP)

Mount Cumbre Vieja erupts in El Paso, spewing out columns of smoke, ash and lava as seen from Los Llanos de Aridane on the Canary island of La Palma on September 19, 2021. (Photo by DESIREE MARTIN / AFP)

Mount Cumbre Vieja erupts in El Paso, spewing out columns of smoke, ash and lava as seen from Los Llanos de Aridane on the Canary island of La Palma on September 19, 2021. (Photo by DESIREE MARTIN / AFP)

Mount Cumbre Vieja erupts spewing a column of smoke and ash as seen from Los Llanos de Aridane on the Canary island of La Palma on September 19, 2021. (Photo by DESIREE MARTIN / AFP)

Cumbre Vieja straddles a ridge in the south of La Palma island and has erupted twice in the 20th century, first in 1949 then again in 1971. (Photo by DESIREE MARTIN / AFP)

The Cumbre Vieja volcano erupted on Spain's Canary Islands today spewing out lava, ash and a huge column of smoke after days of increased seismic activity, sparking evacuations of people living nearby, authorities said. Cumbre Vieja straddles a ridge in the south of La Palma island and has erupted twice in the 20th century, first in 1949 then again in 1971. (Photo by DESIREE MARTIN / AFP)

A man takes a picture as lava flows from a volcano into the valley of Natthagi near Mount Fagradalsfjall, southwest of Iceland's capital Reykjavik on August 26, 2021. (Photo by Jeremie RICHARD / AFP)

Mount Cumbre Vieja erupts spewing out a column of smoke, ash and lava as seen from Los Llanos de Aridane on the Canary island of La Palma on September 19, 2021. (DESIREE MARTIN / AFP)

Tags:Cumbre Vieja volcano Spain volcano

Thousands Flee Cumbre Vieja Volcano in Spain

Mount Cumbre Vieja erupts in El Paso, spewing out columns of smoke, ash and lava as seen from Los Llanos de Aridane on the Canary island of La Palma on September 19, 2021. (Photo by DESIREE MARTIN / AFP)

Mount Cumbre Vieja erupts spewing a column of smoke and ash as seen from Los Llanos de Aridane on the Canary island of La Palma on September 19, 2021. (Photo by DESIREE MARTIN / AFP)

Cumbre Vieja straddles a ridge in the south of La Palma island and has erupted twice in the 20th century, first in 1949 then again in 1971. (Photo by DESIREE MARTIN / AFP)

A man takes a picture as lava flows from a volcano into the valley of Natthagi near Mount Fagradalsfjall, southwest of Iceland's capital Reykjavik on August 26, 2021. (Photo by Jeremie RICHARD / AFP)

Mount Cumbre Vieja erupts spewing out a column of smoke, ash and lava as seen from Los Llanos de Aridane on the Canary island of La Palma on September 19, 2021. (DESIREE MARTIN / AFP)

Mount Cumbre Vieja erupts in El Paso, spewing out columns of smoke, ash and lava as seen from Los Llanos de Aridane on the Canary island of La Palma on September 19, 2021. (Photo by DESIREE MARTIN / AFP)

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