Muted Christmas joy in La Palma evacuees' caravan as volcano falls silent

FILE PHOTO: Aerial view of a group of houses surrounded by the lava of the Cumbre Vieja volcano in an exclusion zone in Las Manchas, on the Canary Island of La Palma, Spain, December 17, 2021. REUTERS/Borja Suarez/

LA PALMA, Spain (Reuters) - Dacil Batista felt little Christmas cheer while trimming a plastic fir tree by the caravan where she, her family and pets have been living since the volcanic eruption on the Spanish island of La Palma forced them from their home.

"No matter how low you feel, at this time of the year you must be strong for the children because they are excited about Christmas," said the 22-year-old mother of two.