On Tuesday, Spain’s government declared the island of La Palma, which has been hit by a volcanic eruption, a disaster zone, triggering emergency subsidies and other assistance.

On Tuesday, the government released a first package of 10.5 million euros ($12.30 million), which comprises about 5 million euros for house purchases and the remainder for furniture and other basic household items, according to government spokesman Isabel Rodriguez.

Lava has been slowly flowing down the volcano’s western flank toward the sea since Sept 19, destroying almost 600 houses as well as churches and banana plantations in La Palma, which neighbors Tenerife in the Canary Islands archipelago off North Africa.

Hundreds of people in coastal villages remain hunkered down in anticipation of lava emitted in previous days reaching the sea and releasing toxic gas.