Nature
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In the chaos of an erupting volcano, a video has emerged of lava wiping out a church in La Palma, one of the Canary Islands.
The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Please sign in or subscribe to access the full content.White ash precedes the flowing lava that pushes into the town of Todoque, and the church tower crumbles into black dust as it is swept away while onlookers and firefighters watch. But the church only shows a small part of destruction as the Cumbre Vieja volcano continues to erupt, taking with it 500 buildings and displacing over 6,000 people so far.
The lava made its way down the steep slopes of the volcano towards the shore, taking with it many buildings in Todoque and surrounding areas. As of Monday, the lava was around 800 meters (2600 feet) from the sea, which will pose new risks if it connects with the water. Officials now have to be aware of the possibilities of plumes of water vapor combined with toxic volcanic gases shopting into the sky if contact is made, risking respiratory problems and burns for locals.
Unfortunately, scientists expect the eruption to continue for at least another 3 months, despite pressure in the volcano easing. Some people are now able to return to their homes, but the majority remain in shelters while they wait for news.
