Spain vows to speed up aid to volcano-hit La Palma

People watch as Cumbre Vieja volcano spews lava and smoke while it continues to erupt, as seen from Tajuya, on the Canary Island of La Palma, Spain, October 22, 2021. REUTERS/Susana Vera

LA PALMA (Reuters) - Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Spain would speed up aid to the hard-hit agriculture and fishing industries on the island of La Palma, where part of the volcano's cone collapsed on Saturday and red hot lava continued to flow over a month after the eruption began.

Lava has covered almost 900 hectares of land, destroying over 2,000 buildings and many banana plantations. More than 7,000 people have had to leave their homes since the eruption started on Sept. 19.