17th.October 2011 Madrid. Sea stain caused by the underwater volcanic eruption off the coast of the island of El Hierro has grown to almost half the size as the island itself, according to the latest satellite photos, Xinhua reported.
The green stain, visible on the surface of the sea, was caused by sulfur expelled by the underwater volcano, which began to erupt on Thursday after several weeks of seismic activities.
Spanish government scientists have been investigating the eruption for several days.
Ramon Otriz, coordinator of a government scientific team, on Sunday said the emission of sulfur could be the first of four stages of the eruption.
"The second stage could see a column of white smoke, the same color as steam, which will then give way to some explosions that are black in color," he stated, adding that the explosions would not put the population at risk.
The final stage, according to Ortiz, could be "the creation of a small island from which a flow of lava could spread." However, Otriz said the possible creation of such an island would depend on the amount of lava expelled by the volcano.

Eruptions Could Create New Island in the Canaries
It hasn't yet reached the surface, but residents of the Canary Islands have taken to the internet to suggest names for a potential new islet. There are already more than 500 suggestions. Favorites include "The Discovery," "Atlantis" and "The Best." Meanwhile Spanish newspapers are taking a different approach to the subject, debating who would take responsibility for the new territory.

It's an underwater volcano off the coast of El Hierro, the southern-most Canary Island, which has caught the imagination of locals. For three weeks it has been spewing magma into the sea in the first volcanic eruptions on the Canary Islands for 40 years. The lava is already towering 100 meters above the seabed -- another 150 meters and it will protrude above the Atlantic Ocean, creating a new island. For Canarians, it's a welcome new attraction.

MADRID-- The regional government of Spain's Canary Islands has ordered the evacuation of homes and road closures near the southern tip of El Hierro island after two earth tremors and increased offshore volcanic activity caused a buildup of bad-smelling debris floating on the sea.

All this means very strong volcanic action below El Hierro.

El Hierro Volcano (Canary Islands) : Red alert – “The beast is getting out of the water”