A massive volcanic eruption over the weekend on La Palma that has forced the evacuation of thousands of people hasn't dissuaded Spain's tourism minister from promoting travel to the island.
The eruption of Cumbre Vieja in the Canary Islands, the first eruption in 50 years in the seismically active Spanish archipelago, sent lava hundreds of feet into the sky and spewing down the volcano's face, destroying nearby houses and forests and forcing about 5,000 people, including some 500 tourists, to flee.
There were no immediate reports of fatalities.
Spanish Tourism Minister Reyes Maroto, speaking to Canal Sur radio on Monday, suggested that the eruption is a potential tourist attraction.
"The island is open," she said. "If your hotel is affected, we will find you another one," adding that if security is reinforced, tourists will be able to continue enjoying the island.
"Make the most of this opportunity to enjoy what nature has brought us," she insisted.
Her comments provoked a political backlash
Maroto's remarks were at odds with those from local officials who warned of the danger posed by the eruption, and the comments sparked outrage among her political opponents.
The tourism spokesperson for Spain's conservative People's Party called out Maroto in a tweet, blasting her comments as "totally inappropriate."
"There are people who are losing their homes!!!" he wrote.
Speaking later Monday, Maroto clarified her remarks, insisting that the first priority was to help the island's residents cope with the disaster.
"In the future — in the coming weeks and months, when this catastrophe has passed — we'll think about how we can once again make the beautiful island of La Palma into a tourist area," she said.
The island has a history of volcanic activity
Spain's prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, arrived in La Palma, home to about 85,000 people, on Sunday shortly after the start of the eruption to meet with regional authorities to coordinate relief. He is expected to visit the area around Cumbre Vieja, which translates as "Old Summit," on Monday.
Volcanologist Nemesio Pérez was quoted by Reuters as saying that if no one behaves recklessly, there shouldn't be any fatalities from the volcano.
Thousands of small tremors, known as "earthquake swarm," on the island in recent days alerted authorities, according to Reuters. Authorities warned last week that an eruption was possible.
Scientists also warned that La Palma's southwest coast, where Cumbre Vieja is located, was subject to possible landslides and rock falls.
Recorded eruptions on the island date back to the 14th century, with the most recent occurring in 1971. That eruption, of La Palma's Teneguía volcano, spewed out lava for more than three weeks and killed a photographer who was trying to capture images of the eruption.
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