Watch: Dramatic visuals of Lava erupting out of volcano in Spain's Canary islands

A volcano erupted on the Spanish Canary Island of La Palma on Sunday, sending lava shooting into the air and streaming in rivers towards houses in two villages.

Spurting lava was coursing down the mountain side creating channels of flowing lava.

Small fires could also be seen on the hillsides as authorities evacuated over 1,000 people. Spain’s Civil Guard said it may need to evacuate up to 10,000 residents.

The eruption comes after a week-long build-up of seismic activity. The Canary Islands Volcanology Institute reported the initial eruption near the southern end of the island, which saw its last eruption in 1971.

Huge red plumes topped with black-and-white smoke shot out along the Cumbre Vieja volcanic ridge, which scientists had been closely watching following the accumulation of molten lava below the surface and days of small earthquakes.

La Palma, with a population of 85,000, is one of eight volcanic islands in Spain’s Canary Islands archipelago off Africa’s western coast.