Spanish island volcano blows open new fissure

A new fissure opened Thursday in a volcano on a Spanish island, adding to fears of more destruction since the Sept. 19 eruption.

The fissure in the Cumbre Vieja volcano is prompting fresh concerns on Spain’s La Palma island, which has already evacuated thousands of people, Reuters reported Friday.

“There is concern about the path of this new flow towards the sea, although it is expected to join up with the previous one within the next few hours,” Mariano Hernandez Zapata, head of La Palma’s council, said.

The fissure opened 1,300 feet from the main eruption site.

The Canaries Volcanology Institute said the fissure was the new “focus of eruption.”

Around 6,000 people have been evacuated since the volcano first erupted, with hundreds of buildings destroyed in the immediate aftermath.

Some residents are now wearing goggles and using umbrellas to help avoid contact with the ash that has rained down, Reuters reported.