Residents of the village of La Restinga, in the Canary Island of El Hierro, which has suffered disturbing volcanic activity this month, are afraid to return home despite plans for the authorities to allow them to.

The villagers were told on Sunday that they would be able to return to their homes within 24 hours if there was no new volcanic activity.

That announcement came after reports on Saturday that magma was flowing at a depth of 150 meters, leaving a sulfurous trail on the sea surface.

"When nothing was happening they evacuated us; and now there is that stain they want us to go back. I won't," bar owner José Redi Morales said Monday.