La Palma volcano eruption | news summary for Friday 24 September
La Palma volcano eruption: live updates
Headlines
- Hundreds of buildings have been destroyed by the lava flow, which now covers nearly 200 hectares
- Villages of Tacande and Tajuya evacuated amid increased explosive activity and two new vents
- Active volcanoes in the Canary Islands: an overview
- When was the last volcanic eruption in the Canary Islands? (Details)
- The question on many minds: What happens when the lava reaches the ocean? (Details)
Live coverage of La Palma volcano eruption
Here you can see live footage of the volcanic eruption. We have our Spanish team monitoring the situation and will be updating regularly here.
Highest-energy activity levels recorded
"Volcanic surveillance measurements carried out since the beginning of the eruption recorded the highest-energy activity so far during Friday afternoon," emergency services said.
La Palma, with a population of over 83,000, is one of an archipelago making up the Canary Islands. At the quiet port of Tazacorte, fishermen described the devastating effect the eruption has had on their livelihoods.
"We haven't been out fishing in a week, the area is closed," said Jose Nicolas San Luis Perez, 49, who has lost his house in the eruption.
UD Las Palmas show support for neighbours
Gran Canaria's second football team showed support for their stricken neighbours on La Palma with messages of support on their matchday shirts as they faced Ponferredina today.
In the photo, Las Palmas boss Pepe Mel posing with the special shirt with the 'Fuerza La Palma' (Be strong La Palma)
Airport closed as La Palma volcano eruption intensifies
Volcanic explosions spewed red hot lava high into the air on La Palma on Saturday as a new emission vent opened, forcing the small Spanish island to close its airport and preventing some people leaving.
The Cumbre Vieja volcano, which began erupting last Sunday, is entering a new explosive phase. The Canary Islands Volcanology Institute, Involcan, said the new emission vent that had opened was to the west of the principle vent.
Spanish airport operator Aena said the island's airport had been closed because of the volcano, which has spewed out thousands of tons of lava, destroyed hundreds of houses and forced the evacuation of nearly 6,000 people.
"La Palma airport is inoperative due to ash accumulation. Cleaning tasks have started, but the situation may change at any time," it tweeted.
Spanish chef flies to La Palma to offer food
Spanish chef José Andrés is in La Palma offering food to those people who have been evacuated from their homes because of the volcano and also to emergency services personnel. A hero!
Vueling cancel flights
"Due to the ash cloud from the La Palma volcano, flights VY3286 BIOSPC and VY3287 SPCBIO on Sunday 26/09 have been cancelled."
Darias cancels visit to La Palma
The Minister of Health, Carolina Darias, announced on Friday that she has cancelled her visit to the island of La Palma as a result of the cancellation of numerous flights to the island due to the ash cloud emitted by the Cumbre Vieja volcano.
"We regret to inform you that, due to the cancellation of different air connections with the island of La Palma and the impossibility of providing other solutions by sea that would allow us to fulfil the planned commitments, the agenda of the Minister of Health, Carolina Darias, for this Saturday, 25th September, has been cancelled", a statement read.
Volcanic activity increases on La Palma, prompting new evacuations and flight cancelations
Fire crews have had to withdraw from the neighborhood of Todoque due to increased pyroclastic material and ash being expelled.
The Cabinet will declare the area a disaster zone next week. Activity at the new volcano that erupted on Sunday on the Canary Island of La Palma greatly increased on Friday afternoon, prompting the authorities to evacuate more nearby municipalities and cancel flights.
A series of explosions have been heard throughout the day, while more pyroclastic material and ash was being spewed out from the Cumbre Vieja area. What’s more, a new vent has opened up, from which lava is flowing.
The eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano, seen from El Paso, La Palma, on Friday.
Photo: Miguel Calero/EFE
Hundreds displaced amid Tajuya, Tacande de Abajo and Tacande de Arriba evacuations
Between 300 and 400 residents of Tajuya, Tacande de Abajo and Tacande de Arriba have had to leave their homes in less than 15 minutes after finding themselves exposed to falling volcanic materials amid increased explosive activity in the erupting Cumbre Vieja volcano.
Almost 80% have sought refuge in the homes of friends and family, while the remaining displaced residents were to be taken to emergency accommodation at the El Fuerte military barracks in Breña Baja.
Infrared images of Cumbre Vieja lava flow
The Canary Islands Volcanology Institute (Involcan) has posted these infrared video images of the lava flows coming from the new eruptive vents that have opened up in the Cumbre Vieja volcano.
New aerial images of lava flow
Radio Televisión Canarias has posted this video offering new aerial images of the lava flow stemming from the Cumbre Vieja volcano:
Over 190 hectares now affected by lava flow - Copernicus
The lava flow from the Cumbre Vieja volcano now covers over 190 hectares and has destroyed at least 420 buildings, according to updated information released by Copernicus, the European Union’s satellite observation programme.
Copernicus’ latest data, which was measured at 9:44pm CEST on Thursday, represents an increase of over 10 hectares in the area covered by the lava flow in the 18 hours following the body’s previous update.
No new fissure in La Palma volcano - Involcan
The Canary Islands Volcanology Institute (Involcan) says a new fissure has not opened in the Cumbre Vieja volcano. “It’s the same system of fissures," Involcan scientific coordinator Nemesio Pérez has told Canarias Radio.
Although Involcan says there are no new fissures, the body is reporting that new vents have opened. The basic difference between a fissure and a vent appears to be that the former is a longer and larger hole than the latter.
More La Palma residents evacuated from homes
Having initially been told to stay in their homes amid increased explosive activity in the erupting Cumbre Vieja volcano, the inhabitants of Tajuya and Tacande de Abajo, and those in the part of Tacande de Arriba that had not already been evacuated, have now been ordered to evacuate.
Firefighters withdraw from Todoque amid volcano explosions
Firefighters working in Todoque, which has been severely affected by the Cumbre Vieja lava flow, have been ordered to withdraw from the La Palma town due to the heavy explosive activity in the volcano, which has caused “an increase in pyroclastic material and a large presence of ash”.
New crater opens as eruption enters new extremely explosive phase
Emergency services have issued a new warning as the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano enters a new extremely explosive phase, with another new crater opening up. Authorities have warned that windows could shatter on buildings anywhere within a three-kilometer radius of the volcano due to the eruption, and as such have issued a confinement order on the areas of Tajuya, Tacande debajo and the non-evacuated part of Tacande de Arriba.
Rural agents help residents to collect their belongings from their home on September 22, 2021 at the Todoque neighbourhood in Los Llanos de Aridane due to the volcano that went on erupting on September 19 in Cumbre Vieja mountain range. - The vast wall of molten lava creeping down the slopes of Spain's La Palma island has destroyed 320 buildings and over 154 hectares of land, Europe's volcano observatory said today. The Cumbre Vieja volcano, which erupted on September 19, 2021, straddles a ridge in the south of La Palma, one of seven islands that make up the Canary Islands, Spain's Atlantic archipelago which lies off the coast of Morocco. (Photo: AFP)
Binter announces cancellation of all flights to La Palma
Earlier today, Binter announced that it was cancelling all night time flights to La Palma. Now the airline has announced that it will move to suspend all flights to the island due to dangerous conditions caused by the ash cloud over the island. The airline said the suspension of flights will remain in place until conditions improve but stated it was not possible to predict at the moment when it would be able to resume flights.
'Snow' of ash falling heavily in La Palma
Europa Press has shared a video of the intense ash fall in La Palma...
Binter announces flight cancellations
Binter, a Spanish airline whose base is in La Palma, has announced it is cancelling all night time flights to and from La Palma due the growing ash cloud that has formed over the island. It confirmed that daytime flights will continue as normal.
In pictures: Spain's King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez talk before visiting people displaced from their homes by the volcanic eruption at the El Fuerte barracks in Brena Baja on the Canary Island of La Palma. (Reuters)
La Palma to be declared official disaster zone
Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez has confirmed that approval will soon be granted to declare La Palma as an official disaster zone, and discussed "immediate and future" measures aimed at the rebuilding of island following the havoc caused by the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano.
Sanchez announced that the Spanish Government, together with the local administrations, will launch a special plan to mitigate the damage that the volcano has caused.
La Palma volcano: what will happen when the lava reaches the Atlantic Ocean?
Once the lava reaches the seawater authorities are concerned about the reaction of the two elements when they come into contact.
According to the emergency management team there could be explosions from thermal shock as the lava has a temperature of around 1,800 ºF (1,100ºC) and the seawater just 73ºF (23ºC). The mixture of the molten rock and the seawater will also lead to chemical reactions that will present additional dangers.
Lava flow from space
The European Union's Earth observation programme, Copernicus, has released this image tracking the lava flow from Cumbre Vieja.
Cumbre Vieja lights up night sky
The Canary Islands Volcanology Institute has been closely monitoring the situation in the Cumbre Vieja mountains and recorded this incredible video of the eruption on Thursday night.
How many active volcanoes are there in the Canary Islands?
The Canary Islands in Spain were formed hundreds of thousands of years ago by volcanoes, and some are still active as shown this week.
King of Spain visits La Palma
King Filipe VI and Queen Letizia visited La Palma to speak with those who have lost everything after a massive volcano eruption which began last Sunday
La Palma volcano eruption: Cumbre Vieja rages on
Residents in awe of volcano activity
A group of La Palma residents captured a huge blast from the volcano overnight as the eruption on La Palma continues to wreak havoc on the island.
"Miracle house" spared from lava flow on La Palma
Images of a "miracle house" on La Palma have been doing the social media rounds after the property was inexplicably spared from the advance of the lava flow from Cumbre Vieja.
The volcano in the Cumbre Vieja mountain range spews gas, ash and lava over the Aridane valley as seen from Los Llanos de Aridane on the Canary Island of La Palma, where a vast wall of molten lava has destroyed hundreds of homes and led to mass evacuations.
The Cumbre Vieja volcano, which erupted on September 19, straddles a ridge in the south of La Palma, one of seven islands that make up the Canary Islands, Spain's Atlantic archipelago which lies off the coast of Morocco. (Photo by DESIREE MARTIN / AFP)
La Palma volcano eruption: welcome
Hell and welcome to AS English's live coverage of the ongoing volcanic eruption on the Canary Island of La Palma. The Cumbre Vieja volcano has been spewing ash and lava since erupting on September 19, destroying hundreds of buildings and forcing the evacuation of thousands of people.