And a new volcano vent blew open 3,000 feet north of where the volcano first erupted on Sunday after a week of rumblings.

       That earthquake "swarm" gave authorities a warning that the mountain was about to blow and allowed evacuations before 166 homes were destroyed on the island off the African coast.

       Officials said lava was bearing down on Todoque, where more than 1,000 people live, sparking a new exodus. By yesterday flows had covered about 260 acres of terrain, said the European Union's Earth Observation Programme.

       Molten rock measured at 1,800F (1,000C) rolled down hills, burning and crushing everything in its path.

       The terrifying torrent was expected to reach the Atlantic yesterday, where it could cause explosions and produce clouds of toxic gas. Scientists say the red flows could last for months.