LAVA from an erupting volcano on the Spanish Cary island of La Palma reached the Atlantic Ocean today, leading to a lockdown of residents outside the evacuation area amid fears of the spread of toxic gases.

An area was evacuated last week as authorities waited for the lava from the volcano, which erupted on September 16, to head the four miles to the coast.

No deaths or serious injuries were reported from the island’s first eruption in 50 years following the evacuations of some 6,000 people in the first hour but on its way down, the flow of lava has destroyed at least 656 buildings, mostly homes.