New El Hierro evacuations as experts forecast big earthquakes

The village of La Restinga, on the island of El Hierro, was evacuated for the second time in under a month due to renewed seismic activity. Mayor Juan Manuel Padrón said it was a preventive measure in case experts' forecasts of magnitude six quakes came true (so far the largest recorded tremor has been 4.4) and also due to the possibly noxious effects from "gases or ash" from new eruptions in the underwater volcano located in this part of the Canary Islands.

There was an initial volcanic eruption here on October 11, which caused a sulfurous slick and forced the evacuation of La Restinga. Of the initial 400 residents of this small tourist destination, the mayor said only about 250 returned after the first scare. Fishing and snorkeling, the area's main activities, have been banned due to contamination risks.

Meanwhile, another 51 people have been evacuated from Frontera, north of the island, due to risk of rockfall.