El Hierro Evacuees allowed 'controlled access' to homes

The Civil Protection Plan for Volcanic Risk (PEVOLCA) met again this afternoon, and have agreed to allow the residents of la Restinga, El Hierro, to have 'controlled access' to their properties.

The Director General of Security and Emergency, Juan Manuel Santana, held a briefing at the Cultural Center of El Pinar, where hhe announced that access would be under the strict supervisio of PEVOLCA together with the Police and the Canary Islands Civil Guard.

Santana also ruled out the relocation of all residents of La Restinga due to recent changes in ocean currents, which has brought the volcan eruption stain closer to the Island's coast, as well as an increased smell of sulfur in the area that has resulted in the need for further air quality tests.

The Director General of Security and Emergency added that, depending on how the eruptive process changes over the next few days, the controled evacuation situation may changed, together with increasing the number of vehicles that can move around the town.

The number and intensity of earth tremors has declined over the last few days, however volcanic activity seems to have increased slightly, with the number of bubbles being brought to the surface indicating that the eruptive process has changed to another phase.

The attached video clip shows the bubbles from the eruptive process bringing volcanic rock and pummice to the surface.

Read further news stories about the El Hierro Volcano by clicking the link HERE .