Access to the beaches of Tacorón and Puerto Naos on the southern coast of the island of El Hierro have been closed to the public after an accumulation of toxic gases was detected.
The gases are from the volcanic eruption where, within a kilometre of the shore, gas and ash periodically bubble to the surface. The two beaches are such that they are prone to accumulate gases in certain wind conditions.
The action was taken after a technician from the National Geographic Institute (IGN) became ill while gathering data on carbon monoxide in the area. It is thought he may have suffered a reaction after inhaling copper sulphate.
Meanwhile, an analysis of dead fish which keep appearing near La Restinga showed that they died from depressurisation and lack of oxygen and not from ingesting metals or toxic elements from the erupting volcano.