Group calling itself A-Team releases video claiming to have rescued animals, ahead of drone attempt

Attempts to use drones to rescue of a group of dogs stranded by the volcanic eruption on the Canary island of La Palma appear to have been pre-empted after a mysterious gang calling itself the A-Team claimed to have retrieved the animals using rather less hi-tech methods.

The eruption – which began on 19 September on the Cumbre Vieja ridge, one of the most active volcanic regions in the archipelago – has destroyed more than 2,000 properties, forced the evacuation of more than 7,500 people, and devastated La Palma’s banana plantations.

The red-hot eruption from the volcano on the Spanish island of La Palma was accompanied by flashes of lightning early on Saturday. A study published in 2016 by the journal Geophysical Research Letters found lightning can be produced during volcanic eruptions because the collision of ash particles creates an electrical charge

• At least four buildings on La Palma destroyed by volcano
  

The Cumbre Vieja volcano on the Canary island of La Palma threw lava and rocks into the air as the eruption continued to gather momentum. Local media reported that the north side of the crater had collapsed late on Sunday, causing a faster flow of lava. Cadena Ser radio said the collapse had formed a new lava flow that was threatening several nearby towns 

• Canary Islands volcano ‘much more aggressive’ as new fissures erupt
  
• ‘Volcanic eruptions are like cats’: the La Palma volcano explained
  

More lava spews out on to La Palma island as scientists record eight earthquakes up to magnitude 3.5

The erupting volcano on Spain’s Canary Islands has blown open two more fissures, with authorities reporting “intense” activity in the area.

The new fissures, about 15 metres (50 feet) apart, sent streaks of fiery red and orange molten rock down toward the sea, parallel to an earlier flow that reached the Atlantic Ocean earlier this week.

A steaming pyramid of black rock has emerged from the Atlantic waves off the coast of the Canary island of La Palma after lava from the volcanic eruption, which began 10 days ago, finally reached the sea late on Tuesday.

The eruption – which began on 19 September on the Cumbre Vieja ridge, one of the most active volcanic regions in the archipelago – has destroyed more than 650 properties, forced the evacuation of more than 6,000 people, and devastated La Palma’s banana plantations