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Galapagos volcano's MILE-HIGH WALL of FIRE menaces SUPER-RARE iguanas

Unbe-LAVA-ble dest-ROCK-tion

Erupting for the first time in 33 years, the Volcán Wolf is hurling fire, lava and ash over the Galápagos Islands.

The eruption on Isabela Island is not expected to pose a risk to its 2,200 human inhabitants – who are, mostly, 70 miles away in Puerto Villamil – although its unique population of pink land iguanas have been in the thoughts of conservationists. Island authorities say that they are not in danger from Wolf.

Galápagos National Park authorities told journalists that the lava was flowing in a south-westerly direction.

The volcano, which began erupting at about 1:30am local time on Monday, is about a mile high and is situated along the Pacific Rim's Ring of Fire.

The Galápagos Islands' rare pink iguanas, "which share the habitat with yellow iguanas and giant Chelonoidis becki tortoises," are situated on the island's north-west flank, "which raises hopes that they will not be affected," it said in a statement.

The eruption follows a month on from that of the Calbuco volcano, in southern Chile, which had been dormant for half a century. Its eruption meant thousands had to be evacuated.

The Ecuadorean-owned Galápagos Islands' natural beauty and connection with the theory of evolution make them a regular site for tourists. The chain of 13 islands and 17 islets sits about 600 miles from the Ecuadorean coast. ®

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