La Palma volcano still spewing out lava three weeks after initial eruption

Lava spewing out of the volcano in La Palma weeks after the initial eruption

The volcano on Spain's La Palma island is still spewing lava and there are no signs of it stopping three weeks after it began erupting.

A new stream of molten rock is adding to the destruction of more than 1,100 buildings on the site in the Canary Islands.

On Saturday, part of the volcanic cone collapsed and sent lava pouring down from the Cumbre Vieja ridge.

The stream carried chunks of lava that had already hardened and an industrial park was soon engulfed.Local official Julio Pérez says the volcanic eruption, which began on September 19, is not expected to “end anytime soon.”

No further evacuations have been made after 6,000 people fled weeks ago.

Experts estimate the largest of the lava flows measures 1.5 km at its widest point and the delta of new land being formed as lava flows into the Atlantic sea has reached a surface of 34 hectares.

If the delta continues to grow outwards into the sea, parts of it could break off and that would generate explosions, gas emissions and large waves, the scientific committee advising the government said.

But that should not present a danger to those outside the no-go zone.

The last eruption on La Palma 50 years ago lasted just over three weeks.