Islanders Watch Volcano’s Lava Consume Homes, Farms

Lava from a volcano erupting in the Cape Verde islands off Africa’s west coast accelerated down the slopes Saturday, swallowing homes and farmland.

Residents of the island of Fogo were ordered to leave their homes or face arrest.

“This is a case of life or death,” President Antonio Mascarenhas Monteiro told reluctant farmers living near the volcano, the Portuguese news agency Lusa reported.

No casualties have been reported. But officials have called for international help in dealing with at least 5,000 refugees who have fled to coastal towns and makeshift camps.

The volcano erupted Monday for the first time in 44 years, spewing fire and ash more than a mile into the air. Although the volcano has since calmed down, it is still producing a strong lava flow, which was picking up speed Saturday as it spread over the slopes, Lisbon’s TSF radio reported.

Residents in the area watched helplessly as a glowing wall of lava consumed their homes and farms.

Cape Verde is a former Portuguese colony some 240 miles west of Senegal in the Atlantic Ocean.