Government of Canary Islands Decrees Evacuation

Mayor Juan Miguel Padron

Due to the risk of a submarine eruption near the coast of the Canary Islands, the government ordered the preventive evacuation of La Restinga in Isle El Hierro. Local authorities have asked the 600 inhabitants to meet at a rendezvous point set by the ‘Volcanic Risk Plan’.

Juan Miguel Padron, the mayor and the Coordination Centre of Emergency and Safety of the Canary Islands confirmed the evacuation order. La Restinga is the most exposed to the submarine eruption. The seism-volcanic alert was raised to red and several people have reached the soccer field of La Restinga as predisposed by the ‘Volcanic Risk Plan’.

The reactions of the locals are disparate; some remain in the beach bathing under the sun while others have fled the location rapidly. (AV)