OTTAWA, Sept 30 (Reuters) - A volcanic eruption off the Red Sea coast of Yemen spewed lava hundreds of yards (metres) into the air Sunday evening and at least nine people were missing at sea, Canadian naval officials said.

The eruption occurred on Jazirt Atta-Ir, an island about 80 miles (140 km) from Yemen, the Canadian navy said in a statement.

HMCS Toronto was conducting a search and rescue operation, at the request of the Yemen coast guard. At the time of the eruption, the NATO fleet was sailing north towards the Suez Canal, the statement said.

Navy spokesman Ken Allen told Canadian Press lava was spewing hundreds of yards into the air, with volcanic ash also rising 300 yards (metres).

In an e-mail from Toronto, he said the entire 2-mile-long (3-km-long) island is aglow with lava and magma as it pours into the sea.

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