The volcano in La Palma is still puffing and creating more lava flow. Photo courtesy Today in 24.
The volcanic Island La Palma in the Canary Islands, off the northwestern coast of Africa, is again causing more havoc on the already active island. This time the volcano has opened up a fifth vent increasing lava flow down the mountain. Siesmic activity has also increased with over 80 earthquakes since October 31st, including one at 5.1 on the Richter scale November 3rd. This seismic activity was recorded at a depth of over 15.5 miles beneath the earth’s crust. Over 200 earthquakes ranging from 3.5 to 4.1 have been recorded in the area in the past few days.
Volcanologist Ruben Lopez of the National Geographic Institute (IGN) said the volcano now has three vents inside the crater and two more outside on the western slope. An increase in lava flow has occurred due to the opening of the new vent.
Record ash is covering the area. Photo courtesy Earth Chronicles.
Miguel Angel Morcunde, technical director of the Canaries Volcano Risk Prevention Plan (Pevolca), said this is an important event in that the volcano again started spewing lava and toxic gases which has recently only been spewing pyroclastic material. This means that there is a redistribution of deep magma rising to the surface and heading to a new point in the volcano.
A new flow of molten rock is now being released with lava moving toward the Las Manchas area which was one of first areas evacuated when the volcano erupted September 19th. The new lava stream is moving southeasterly and is joining an already active lava stream versus starting a new river. This new lava flow razed approximately 3.5 hectares or approximately 9 acres in eight hours.
The lava river flow first reached the Atlantic Ocean on September 28th creating a new lava platform jutting into the sea. Lava flowing into the downtown La Laguna area in Los Llanos de Aridane is the most concerning for local area residents and business owners. That lava stream has destroyed a local school, residences and businesses in the area.
Lava flow has reached up to 100 feet deep in some areas. Photo courtesy BayRadio.
In addition the volcano has started spewing more ash than at any time since eruption began almost seven weeks ago. So much ash that it is covering houses and buildings in the area. The increase in ash has accompanied an increase in lava flow. Lava in some areas is 100 feet deep, easily covering homes in the area.
Local residents and business owners are concerned that the lava flow will turn south into the banana plantations. Plantation destruction has already occurred but will have a more dramatic impact on the local economy which is highly dependent on the banana plantations. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has pledged 65 million Euros to the agriculture and fishing sectors of the economy. He said that the money is to assist the areas hardest hit by the eruption.
Morcunde also confirmed that the volcanic cone had collapsed causing lava to overflow on the northeastern flank of the mountain. This increased lava flow and spewing has caused the volcano to grow to a height of
While the destruction arising from down below has occurred the island of La Palma has been sieged by multitudes of tourists who want to sightsee the volcano activity. Unfortunately this is not the time to sightsee when local residents are suffering from loss of housing and property. Pablo Gonzales manager of the Ashotel in La Palma, said hotels are restricting their rooms to locals who need a place to stay, and that “now is not the time for La Palma tourism, it is time to help.” He continued that many “tourists are not doing that, instead they are occupying beds that could be used by security and others who have come to help.”
To date on day 47, there have been 2,562 buildings and over 45 miles of roads destroyed. There are also signs that the volcano could be nearing the end of its life. Earthquake tremors have decreased and sulfer dioxide levels are “on a downward trend” at 9.6 tons per day on November 3rd.
Michael Reed is Editor and Publisher of The Standard newspaper, print and online, and TheStandardSC YouTube channel where many video reports may be found. Please share freely and donate to The Standard on this page to assure the continued availability of news that is ignored too often by the dominant media.
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