A volcano erupted on Spain's Atlantic Ocean island of La Palma on Sunday, sending lava shooting into the air. It comes after a weeklong buildup of seismic activity, prompting authorities to evacuate thousands of local residents as lava flows destroyed isolated houses and threatened to reach the coast.  

A magnitude-4.2 quake was recorded before the volcanic eruption. Shortly after the initial explosion rocked the area, a black lava flow with a burning tip commenced sliding toward houses in the village of El Paso.