La Palma's Airport Forced to Close Due to 2nd Volcanic Vent

La Palma airport was closed by authorities as a new wind in an exploding volcano opened, stretching more ash across the island.

As a result of a volcanic eruption lasting almost a week, flights to and from Spain have been canceled.

Rivers of lava spilled over the volcano's hills, flying high into the air after Saturday's new airs opened as the eruption went into its most explosive stage.

La Palma airport operator Aena said on Twitter "due to the accumulation of ash" aircraft traffic was suspended.

The Company added that other airports still operate in the Canary Islands. Workers with PPE have cleared the ash, as travellers have tried to change their tickets for the next flights available. Other passengers chose to fly to another canary island where flights could be picked up.

The intensity of the eruptions has increased in recent days, prompting the evacuation of three additional villages on the island. Almost 7,000 people have had to leave their homes.

"Volcanic surveillance measurements carried out since the beginning of the eruption recorded the highest-energy activity so far during Friday afternoon," emergency services said, according to Sky News.

Urgent crews returned Friday as moulded rock and ash explosions were sent over a wide area from the Cumbre Vieja Volcano. Hundreds of buildings on the western side of the island were destroyed by lava flows.

[caption id="attachment_273479" align="alignnone" width="1024"] La Palma volcano[/caption]

Residents there were originally told that they should stay indoors but emergency services said that because of increased volcanic activity they decided to take more serious precautions.

On Friday, during a visit to La Palma, Pedro Sanchez announced a package to help get the island back on its feet and to "rebuild lives."

Sanchez said the Spanish government will support the restoration of homes and public infrastructures, including roads, irrigation networks and schools.

He didn't say how much money he would spend but said a cabinet meeting would give more details next week.

In the context of the volcano eruption, no serious injuries and deaths have been reported, but around 15% of the Island's economically critical banana crop may endangered.