We are digging a large channel with backhoes and then raising dikes to redirect the river of the lava flows, Jesus Madero, one of the members of the fire department on the island of La Palma, in Canary Islands, explained.

This is an operation with a low probability of success, but we have already managed to save some houses, Madero told local media.

The tragedy of the Cumbre Vieja volcano eruption, which began on Sunday, has destroyed some 200 houses and more than 150 hectares of crops, and caused significant damage to infrastructure.

This Thursday, King Felipe VI of Spain and President of the Government, Pedro Sanchez, traveled to La Palma. The latter is returning from New York after a brief stay for activities at the United Nations General Assembly.

On Wednesday, Spain’s Minister for the Presidency, Parliamentary Relations and Democratic Memory, Felix Bolaños, said that a reconstruction plan for La Palma is already being worked on, which will be implemented when the volcano eruption is over.

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