Video Shows Injured Kitten Being Rescued in La Palma Volcano Exclusion Zone

The moment that an injured kitten was rescued from the La Palma volcano exclusion zone has been captured on video.

The footage, which was posted to Twitter on Monday by photojournalist David Melero, shows a small gray cat emerging from a wooden crate where it had been hiding, as two photographers try to coax it out.

The cat does not appear to be moving comfortably, but still attempts to flee. However one of the people manages to gently capture it.

They subsequently transported the cat to an animal shelter, where it was treated for its injuries.

"Today we came across a kitten in poor condition and we were able to rescue it in time," Melero wrote on Twitter (via Google translate).

"He is now in the Benawara shelter where they are treating him. Slight wounds and burned whiskers."

The animal shelter, Protectora De Animals y Plantas Benawara de La Palma, posted a video of the cat receiving treatment and eating on Facebook.

"He has burns but is already under veterinary treatment and control at the Eusebio Barreto fields. Do you know him?" it wrote alongside the post, which confirmed that the cat was found within the Cumbre Vieja exclusion zone.

Its whiskers and the fur between its eyes and nose appeared to be badly singed, and its paws were blackened.

Melero wrote in a follow-up post on Twitter: "The cat we rescued yesterday in the exclusion zone is already better. He was dehydrated and exhausted, weak and scared. Tonight she has eaten a lot."

He said that the cat has been named "Magma," in tribute to the eruption, which has now entered its 45th day.

The eruption started on September 19, and has forced thousands of people to flee their homes on La Palma.

As of Monday, November 1, the eruption had destroyed 2,574 buildings, with the lava flows covering more than 975 hectares of land, according to the European Union's Copernicus satellite program.

Lava started to reach the Atlantic Ocean on the west side of the island in late September, and continues to flow from the volcanic ridge.

In October, footage emerged of dogs that had been trapped by the lava flows being fed by drones.

With no end in sight, Casimiro Curbelo, the president of the nearby island of La Gomera's municipal council recently suggested drastic measures be taken, calling for bombs to be used to divert the flow.

There are also growing concerns about the rapidly deteriorating air quality on the island. High levels of ash have forced the suspension of flights to La Palma, as well as the closure of schools.