LA PALMA (Reuters) – The airport on the Spanish island of La Palma reopened on Sunday but flights remained cancelled as the volcano continued to spew lava and emit ash clouds over the surrounding area a week after it erupted.

Reuters drone footage captured a torrential flow of hot lava down the slopes and into buildings.

Aena in Spain, the operator of the airport said that after the teams had cleared the runway of ash, the airport has been reopened. Binter, a Canary Island airline said it would cancel flights today due to the current conditions.

The temporary suspension of flight to La Palma is necessary due to the ash cloud from the volcano eruption. According to a statement, the flight cancellations for today were announced. “The flight stoppage will not end until flying conditions are improved, which guarantees safety.

Spanish media reports that Sunday’s flights will remain cancelled.

The Cumbre Vieja https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/iberia-binter-cancel-some-flights-la-palma-due-volcanic-ash-2021-09-24 volcano, which began erupting last Sunday, entered a new explosive phase on Friday, experts said. According to the National Geographical and Mining Institute, drones have shown that the cone has broken.

Nearly 6,000 people have been evacuated since the volcano’s eruption on September 19.

“La Palma Airport is operational again. It can be opened again after progress has been made in the ash removal process,” Aena tweets.

On Saturday, travelers were faced with cancellations and queues at Port Aena to try and get a boat.

Fred Olsen Express ferry operator announced on Sunday that they would be adding a second round trip between La Palma, Tenerife and Monday through Wednesday.

According to a statement, Fred Olsen Express said it would “increase connections…to continue meeting the demand of transport generated by an energency condition caused by the volcanic eruption.”

Authorities said that some people who were evacuated from areas near the volcano’s crater could return home to retrieve their possessions.

La Palma is home to more than 83,000 people and it’s one of the archipelagos that make up the Canary Islands.

No fatalities or serious injuries have been reported in the volcano’s eruption, but about 15% of the island’s economically crucial banana crop https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/farmers-despair-volcano-ravages-la-palmas-banana-crop-2021-09-24 could be at risk, jeopardising thousands of jobs.