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The Cumbre Vieja volcano sends huge plumes of thick black smoke into the sky, churning up molten lava that oozed down the mountainside on the Spanish island of La Palma.

Long queues of vehicles can be seen in Spain's Canary Islands as people flee from the eruption of La Cumbre Vieja volcano on La Palma island.

A surge of lava destroyed around 100 homes on Spain's Canary Islands a day after the Cumbre Vieja volcano erupted, forcing 5,500 people to leave the area, local authorities said. The volcano erupted on Sunday afternoon, sending vast plumes of thick black smoke into the sky and belching molten lava that oozed down the mountainside on the island of La Palma.

Commercial flights to the Canary Island have been called off due to an "accumulation of ash" in the air. A recent volcanic eruption on the island has forced the evacuation of thousands of residents.

The eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano in Spain's Canaries archipelago enters the seventh day. The airport of La Palma reopened Sunday after a 24-hour closure due to ash, but with flights remaining suspended until conditions improve.

Lava from an erupting volcano in the Canary Islands reaches the ocean, raising fears of toxic gases being released as the molten magma hits the seawater.

The Cumbre Vieja volcano continues to spew lava and ashes in La Palma, one of Spain's Canary Islands, where coastal residents are confined to their homes over fears of toxic gases as the lava hits the sea.

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Scientists said the eruption was contained within the national park and would not pose a threat to residents nearby. Park authorities said they expected a surge of visitors, urging them to adhere to COVID-19 measures.

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Aerial images of volcano activity and lava flows from the Cumbre Vieja volcano which has spewed more than 80 million cubic metres of magma since it started erupting on the Spanish island of La Palma on September 19.

When La Cumbre Vieja began erupting and sending burning lava across huge swathes of land on the western side of La Palma in Spain's Canary Islands, thousands of people were forced to flee. Pensioners Margaretha and Luis were among those who had to leave their homes, and the couple are now taking refuge in their small boat in the port of Tazacorte until it is safe to return.