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Thousands protest in Spain’s Canary Islands against over tourism

Gran Canaria, Spain Reuters Thousands of people protested in holiday resorts in Spain’s Canary Islands on Sunday against over tourism which they say prices local people out of the housing market. Under the slogan Canary Islands has a limit, residents demonstrated simultaneously in Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Palma, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and El Hierro and called […]

“Heat storm” stretches into southern Europe while US faces flash floods, heat warnings for 25 per cent of population

Italy - Rome - heat

Updated: 12:30pm (AEST) Rome, Italy Reuters Italy issued hot weather red alerts for 16 cities on Sunday, with meteorologists warning that temperatures will hit record highs across southern Europe in the coming days. A person seeks shelter from the heat in Rome. PICTURE: Reuters/Guglielmo Mangiapne Spain, Italy and Greece have been experiencing scorching temperatures for several […]

Wildfires in Spain’s La Palma island forces evacuations as heatwave grips Europe

A view of a wildfire in La Palma, Spain, on 15th July, 2023 in this screengrab obtained from a social media video

Barcelona Reuters At least 2,000 people have been evacuated as a forest fire burned out of control in the Spanish island of La Palma, authorities said on Saturday, as Europe was gripped by a heatwave. Many parts of southern Spain saw scorching temperatures of over 40 degrees Celsius last week and even higher temperatures are […]

Spanish volcano victims feel forgotten, want change from election

Dutch Karin Bansgerg, 57, waters the trees on the land she has bought to build her new house with the aid given to her by the government after losing her house because of the Tajogaite volcano eruption on the Canary Island of La Palma, Spain, on 6th July, 2023

La Palma, Spain Reuters Living in rows of look-alike makeshift homes as hardened black lava covers the once-bucolic valleys where they used to dwell, many residents of the Spanish island of La Palma feel resentment and yearn for political change in this month’s general election. The eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano over three months […]

Quake-hit Azores island could have eruption like La Palma, volcano experts warn

Azores Pico island

Sao Jorge, Portugal Reuters Volcano experts warned on Tuesday that the earthquake-hit island of Sao Jorge in Portugal’s Azores archipelago could experience an initial eruption similar to Spain’s La Palma last year, which destroyed thousands of properties and crops over 85 days. The lush mid-Atlantic island has been rattled by more than 20,000 small earthquakes […]

La Palma residents scale volcanic ash mountains to return home

Canary Islands La Palma Las Manchas neighbourhood

Las Manchas, Spain Reuters Eighty-year-old Sabino Leal Jeronimo returned to his home on Spain’s Canary Island of La Palma for the first time in four months on Friday after a volcanic eruption forced him to flee. Lava streams may no longer threaten to burn down his house in the hilly town of Las Manchas, but […]

La Palma volcano eruption declared over after three months of destruction

Spain La Palma Cumbre Vieja volcano drone pilot

Madrid, Spain Reuters Scientists declared the eruption on Spain’s La Palma officially over on Saturday, allowing islanders to breathe a sigh of relief nearly 100 days after the Cumbre Vieja volcano began to spew out lava, rock and ash and upended the lives of thousands.  After bursting into action on Sept. 19, the volcano suddenly […]

Muted Christmas joy in La Palma evacuees’ caravan as volcano falls silent

Spain Canary Islands La Palma Las Manchas

La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain Reuters Dacil Batista felt little Christmas cheer while trimming a plastic fir tree by the caravan where she, her family and pets have been living since the volcanic eruption on the Spanish island of La Palma forced them from their home. “No matter how low you feel, at this time […]

Thousands of Santas stage Madrid charity run for volcano-hit La Palma

Spain Madrid Santas

Madrid, Spain Reuters Thousands of people dressed as Santa Claus took part in a charity run through Madrid on Sunday to raise money for people affected by a three-month volcanic eruption on the Spanish island of La Palma. Decked out in classic red and white outfits, the runners set off in a flurry of fake […]

Cautious clean-up on La Palma as hopes rise for end to volcano eruption

Spain La Palma Tacande neighbourhood

La Palma, Spain Reuters Authorities on Spain’s La Palma island allowed evacuated residents to return to clear their ash-covered houses on Thursday as scientists suggested solidifying lava vents beneath the Cumbre Vieja volcano could herald an end to the three-month eruption.  Deep banks of black ash had piled up to head height outside Daniel Geronimo’s […]