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‘Not good to breathe in!' La Palma volcano erupts again with dangerous gas plume

The new eruptions have raised concerns over toxic gasses, after two new vents in the earth were opened by the Cumbre Vieja volcano. Thousands of residents have been told to remain indoors as the air quality worsens.

The lava from the eruption in September has created a pyramid shape which is more than 150ft high in the sea.

A new lockdown has been implemented affecting around 3,500 people.

Emergency services said in a statement: "The new lockdown is as a consequence of the meteorological conditions that prevent the dispersion of gases and keep them at low levels of the atmosphere."

When lava mixes with the ocean, it creates a gas plume which can cause eye, lung and skin irritation if people get close to it.

Dr Robin George Andrews spoke to the BBC, he said: "It creates a steam of hydrochloric acid, water vapour and bits of ash."

"Obviously, it's not good to breathe in."

The Cumbre Vieja volcano on the island of La Palma initially erupted on September 19.

The eruption in September destroyed many houses and resulted in 6,000 people being evacuated from their homes. On September 28, the lava reached the sea and clouds of white steam could be seen as it made contact with the water.

Last week the Spanish government declared the island a disaster zone.

The rivers of molten rock have a temperature exceeding 1,000 degrees Celsius.

Also, around 15 percent of the banana crops may have been entirely destroyed, putting thousands of jobs at risk.

According to Spanish property portal Idealista the damage is currently around €178million.

On Tuesday the Canary Island Volcanology Institute said the volcano had spewed out more than 46 million cubic metres of molten rock.

The eruptions are the islands' first in 50 years.