Volcano erupts on Spain's La Palma island, spewing lava and forcing thousands to evacuate

Lava continued to flow slowly from a volcano that erupted in Spain's Canary Islands off northwest Africa, but the head of the regional government said Monday that he expected no injuries to people in the area after some 5,000 were evacuated. Lava was flowing on the island of La Palma toward the sea, moving at 2,300 feet per hour, according to the Canary Islands Volcanology Institute.

The lava was moving in two streams through a mostly unpopulated area, Canary Islands government chief Ángel Víctor Torres told SER radio. Some 20 isolated houses were destroyed, SER reported.

"We're not expecting any other eruption," Torres said, adding that air traffic in the area was not affected.  "There will be considerable material damage," he said. "We hope there won't be any personal injuries."  The eruption opened two fissures about 650 feet apart. Officials said the lava streams would likely merge before reaching the sea.