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The surface of Spain's La Palma island is expanding as lava from a volcano that erupted 11 days ago has reached the sea. Copernicus, the European Union's Earth observation programme, said Thursday that its satellite imagery showed a D-shaped tongue of molten rock building upon the island's western shore measured 338 hectares (835 acres) by the end of Wednesday. The lava has travelled about six kilometres and reached the sea on Tuesday evening. The meeting between the lava and the sea did not produce explosions of volcanic material, as feared, but it did produce potentially toxic gases. In order to avoid poisoning, the local government of the island asked the inhabitants of several districts of Tazacorte, the municipality where the lava flowed into the sea, to isolate themselves from their homes. Read more La Palma volcano lava reaches sea after nine days of carnage sparking toxic gas fears Spain holiday warning as
