No end in sight for Spain volcano eruption

There is no sign a volcanic eruption on the Spanish island of La Palma is coming to an end, four weeks after it began, officials say.

The volcano, on one of the Canary Islands off northwest Africa, has so far destroyed more than 1800 buildings, mostly homes, though prompt evacuations have helped avoid casualties on the island of some 85,000 people.

The Canary Islands are administered by Spain.

Canary Islands President Angel Victor Torres said scientists monitoring the eruption that began on September 19 have seen no indication the eruption is abating, as rivers of lava continue flowing slowly towards the sea.

"We are at the mercy of the volcano," Torres told reporters. "It's the only one who can decide when this ends."

Some 7000 people have so far had to leave their homes.

The volcano has produced a constant rumble and roar, with dozens of minor earthquakes most days, and has covered a wide area with volcanic ash. The ash plume is several kilometres high.

Airlines have sporadically cancelled flights to the islands, including 56 flights over the weekend, due to ash clouds from the eruptions.

The latest satellite imagery showed the molten rock has covered 754 hectares, most of it countryside and farm land.

Almost 60km of roads have also been ruined.

The island lives mainly from tourism and banana plantations and the national government has pledged millions of euros to help rebuild damaged infrastructure.