Authorities lift stay-home order after Spanish volcano eruption

A stay-home order for residents near a Spanish volcano eruption has been lifted almost two weeks after the event occurred. 

Los Llanos de Aridane, El Paso and areas of Tazacorte, Spain, have been under a stay-home order due to the low air quality following the volcano eruption on La Palma on Sept. 19, Reuters reported. 

“In response to the improvement in air quality measurements in the area, the lockdown in Tazacorte, El Paso and Los Llanos de Aridane will be lifted,” emergency services said, according to the wire service.

The authorities also advised that vulnerable groups, including the elderly and children, should continue to stay indoors. Even those that are healthy still shouldn’t a large amount of time outside, according to emergency services. 

The Cumbre Vieja volcano has caused around 6,000 people to evacuate and destroyed hundreds of buildings. 

News of the stay-home order comes after a new fissure opened on the volcano, causing concern for further destruction. 

“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 Thursday. 

Some residents have had to resort to using goggles and umbrellas to avoid the ash that is rained down on them from the volcano.