MADRID, Reuters – On Thursday morning the Cumbre Vieja volcano of the Canary Island La Palma emitted lava in large bursts into the atmosphere while toxic ash covered the area.

The lava that was flowing down from the volcano’s slopes engulfed homes, schools, and banana plantations for a fifth consecutive day. However, it did so more slowly than the previous days.

Nancy who runs a local jewelry business said that everything started as an extraordinary, beautiful thing on Sunday. But it turned into tragedy the following day. There are many people I know there who have lost their entire lives. “Our hearts are broken.”

Our hearts are broken.”

Nearly 200 houses were damaged and thousands forced to flee by the lava.

Idealista estimates the volcano destroyed properties worth approximately 87million euros ($102million).

Spanish banks offered vacant property that was being held by Spanish banks to those who had lost their home.

The authorities in the area have advised residents to keep their vegetables clean and to not ingest toxic ash.

In the next hours, a cloud of sulfur dioxide will move east over the Canary archipelago and Iberian peninsulas.