The La Palma volcano continues to spew lava and the government declares the area a “disaster zone”

(CNN) – The Cumbre Vieja volcano, on the Spanish island of La Palma, continued to spew lava this Tuesday for the tenth consecutive day.

At the end of Monday, the lava flow was at a distance of between 800 meters and 1 kilometer from the sea, according to a statement issued by the Canarian government’s volcanic emergency committee.

During a press conference held on Tuesday, the government of Spain declared the island of La Palma a “disaster area,” according to spokeswoman Isabel Rodríguez.

Rodríguez announced an initial aid package of 10.5 million euros (US $ 12.3 million) to finance new homes.

Intense ash fall

The Department of National Security of Spain asked residents in the affected areas to remain in their homes due to the intense ash fall, in a statement also released this Tuesday through social networks. The island’s airport is currently operational, but the airlines did not operate any flights on Monday, the statement added.

Binter, a Canarian airline, announced through Twitter that the flights were canceled until 1:00 p.m. local time this Tuesday. The airline is “evaluating the situation to resume them when they can be operated safely,” he added.

As of late Monday, 5,600 people have been evacuated, after another 200, evacuated last Friday, were allowed to return home, according to a statement from the volcano’s emergency committee.