The Spanish government has declared the island a disaster zone after the "most intense day" of activity so far. Lava erupted from the Cumbre Vieja volcano on Monday evening and poured down the mountainside after a period of several hours of eerie silence. The fresh activity has reignited fears of toxic gas and acid rain as the molten lava draws closer to the sea. The rivers of molten rock have a temperature exceeding 1,000 degrees celsius and could cause explosions and produce clouds of toxic gas when they meet the sea

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       Molten lava has been flowing down the west side of the volcano toward the sea since September 19.

       The natural disaster has destroyed more than 500 houses as well as churches, businesses and banana plantations.

       Up to 15 percent of the banana crops may have been entirely destroyed, putting thousands of jobs at risk.

       The damage is currently estimated to stand at around €178million, with that figure expected to grow, according to Spanish property portal Idealista.

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