The government of Spain’s Canary Islands declared an emergency on Tuesday, as an industrial fire continues to burn on the island of El Hierro.

Axar.az reports citing foreign media.

The fire started this morning in an industrial complex where tires and mattresses are stored.

The Canary Islands' emergency services told residents of the nearby towns of Isora, San Andres, and La Cuesta to stay inside their homes to avoid breathing in the toxic fumes.

A black cloud of smoke can be seen across the small island, and the rest of El Hierro’s around 11,000 inhabitants have been told to stay away from the area.

Firefighters and helicopters continue to battle the flames, which could continue burning for days, according to local media.

Alpidio Armas, the president of El Hierro, told local online daily Gaceta del Meridiano that the fire is difficult to control due to the burning of tires, mattresses, and chemical products, which make the smoke “highly toxic.”