La Palma volcano eruption news summary: 12 October
La Palma volcanic eruption: live updates
Headlines
- New evacuations in La Laguna as lava flow advances
- Partial collapse of volcanic cone near emission vent on Saturday sent surge of lava down the slopes of Cumbre Vieja
- Lava flow now covers surface area of roughly 600 hectares
- Village of Todoque north completely destroyed by lava flow
- La Palma and Tenerife North airports reopen after weekend closures
- "Kipuka" forming in wake of lava flow
- Lava forming huge delta on La Palma coast
- Delta has claimed around 40 hectares of new land from the Atlantic
- Multiple earthquakes registered over past few days
- Over 1,180 buildings destroyed by the lava flow, with 6,000 people evacuated and almost 40km of roads made impassable
Useful information
- Volcanologist speaks to AS about the effects of lava reaching the sea
- An overview of the active volcanoes on the Canary Islands
- When was the last volcanic eruption on the Canary Islands?
Related news articles:
Thousands freed from La Palma lockdown as volcano cloud passes
More than three thousand residents of La Palma were allowed to leave their homes on Tuesday when authorities ended a lockdown ordered after a thick cloud of smoke erupted from a volcano that has devastated the Spanish Canary island.
A stream of red-hot lava gushing from the Cumbre Vieja volcano engulfed a cement plant on Monday, raising clouds of smoke and prompting authorities to instruct people in the area stay at home.
Emergency services told residents in the towns of El Paso and Los Llanos de Aridane to stay indoors, shut their windows and turn off air conditioning units to avoid inhaling toxic fumes from the burning cement plant as it was gradually swallowed by the lava.
Later the same day, authorities said the smoke cloud had passed and the air quality had improved so 3,500 residents could leave their homes.
Panamanian musician Bladés sends support
Veteran musician Ruben Bladés published a message of support for La Palma inhabitants on his Twitter account stating:
We send our prayers and good wishes to the Canary Islands, especially to those on the island of La Palma, in these difficult times, caused by the eruption of "Cumbre Vieja", which has covered many key areas of the island with lava. area. Keep the Faith, Canary Islander!
Ash cloud from eruption turns day to night
The contrast between the sunny day time weather in the north of La Palma comes into stark contrast with the dense ash cloud hanging over the southern portion of the island.
The winds have been still allowing the cloud to hang over the land while a light rain is helping bring ash particles down on the surrounding communities.
La Palma eruption: drone footage shows lava flow intensifying
Drone footage shows lava flow intensifying
Night-time images captured by drone footage of the Cumbre Vieja eruption show the volcano's beauty and devastating power.
Following the partial collapse of the Cumbre Vieja volcano's cone on Saturday, a new river of lava has been streaming towards the sea, devouring banana and avocado plantations and most of the remaining houses in the town of Todoque.
Torrents of molten rock have destroyed 1,186 buildings in the three weeks since the eruption, the Canary Islands Volcanic Institute said.
About 6,000 people have been evacuated from their homes on La Palma, which has about 83,000 inhabitants.
Thermal imaging of the La Palma lava flow
The Geological and Mining Institute of Spain in conjunction with the Spanish National Research Council posted this video of the lava flow coming down the side of Cumbre Vieja in La Palma. Although the lava appears not to be moving, using thermal imaging activity can be seen in the main lava channels.
Recent footage of lava flow from La Palma
The Canary Islands Volcanology Institute released video of the lava flow from Cumbre Vieja at 8:40 pm local time on Tuesday.
La Palma volcano eruption: aerial footage shows huge boulders in lava flow
Boulders the size of buildings in lava flow
This dramatic footage from the Spanish Institute of Mining and Geology shows huge lumps of rock the size of three-storey buildings flowing down the mountain in the lava.
More residents forced to abandon their homes in La Palma
On Tuesday over 700 residents of La Laguna were given until 6 pm local time to collect their belongings and pets as slow moving lava encroached upon their locality. There have been over 41 earthquakes registered Tuesday with the strongest 4.1 magnitude. The flow of molten rock has now covered roughly 600 hectares.
Officials speak to the evacuation that took place earlier today after a path of lava destroyed a cement production center. More than 700 people have been evacuated as the lava moved closer to civilian areas.
After the flow of lava destroyed a cement plant on the island of La Palma, authorities called for an additional lockdown.
As the lava flow continues an addition 700 people were asked to evacuate on the northeast side of the island.
New images emerge of massive blocks of lava flowing through the island of La Palma in the Spanish canary islands. Experts from the Spanish Institute of Geology and Mining say that some of the blocks were the size of a three-story building.
Evacuated La Laguna residents have time to collect belongings
The Cabildo de La Palma, the island’s local government, says the slow advance of the lava that has forced the evacuation of La Laguna means inhabitants of the area are expected to have until 7pm this evening local time to gather what they need from their homes before leaving.
64 seismic movements on Tuesday
There were 64 seismic movements on Tuesday, the strongest measuring 4.1, the Spanish National Geological Institute said.
La Palma airport remained open but 11 flights were cancelled on Tuesday and others were delayed, airport operator AENA said.
Earlier on Tuesday, officials lifted a lockdown ordered because of a cloud of smoke over two villages caused by the eruption, allowing more than 3,000 residents to go outside.
Photo: EFE
Residents evacuated
Over 700 residents were ordered to abandon their homes on Tuesday on the Spanish island of La Palma as lava advanced towards their neighbourhood.
Inhabitants in La Laguna were told to leave home with their belongings and pets, according to the Canary Islands Volcanic Emergency Plan (Pevolca).
“We have been obliged to evacuate a new area. The lava is advancing slowly. People should have time to take their documents, their personal items and anything of value,” said Miguel Angel Morcuende, technical director of Pevolca.
How many active volcanoes are there in the Canary Islands?
The eruption which started on September 19 could continue for several more weeks or even a couple of months.
Prior to the eruption, over 25,000 tremors were registered as the 11 million cubic meters of magma at 1,100 degrees Celsius pushed its way to the surface.
La Palma is not the only active volcano on the islands. The lands of Macaronesia, that is the archipelagos of the Canary Islands, Madeira, Azores and Cape Verde, were formed by volcanoes 70 million years ago.
A resident carries a mirror from her home as she prepares to evacuate the area in prevention of the arrival of lava from the Cumbre Vieja volcano in La Laguna, on the Canary Island of La Palma, Spain, October 12, 2021.
Photo by Reuters/Sergio Pérez
Three lava flows still active
RTVC show live drone images of the current situation of the volcanic eruption on La Palma.
Three lava flows are still active. One of them is still on its way to the sea, another one, further south, has slowed down.
Lava destroying buildings on La Palma
El País - According to Pevolca technical director Miguel Ángel Morcuende, the lava on La Palma has so far affected 525.27 hectares, an area that grew by 33 hectares in just 24 hours.
At its widest point, the river of molten rock stretches 1,520 meters, up from 1,250 meters. This includes 132 hectares for agriculture, which is one of the island’s main economic drivers.
According to the latest data from the European observation system Copernicus, the lava has completely or partially destroyed 1,186 buildings, with 95 more at risk.
Photo: Gtres
The Cumbre Vieja volcano spews lava and smoke as it continues to erupt on the Canary Island of La Palma, as seen from Tacande, Spain, October 12, 2021.
Photo by Reuters/Sergio Pérez
Lava from La Palma volcano burns cement plant
Reuters - A stream of red-hot lava gushing from the Cumbre Vieja volcano on the Spanish island of La Palma engulfed a cement plant on Monday, raising a thick cloud of smoke and prompting authorities to order people in the area into lockdown.
Confinement zone due to burning cement factory
The lava from the Cumbre Vieja eruption on La Palma is slowly engulfing a cement factory in the vicinity of Tajuya creating a large cloud of gases. Emergency services on the island have confined 2,500 residents in the area to their homes while the composition of the gas cloud is analyzed.
Nighttime video of the La Palma eruption
Incredible images of the sheer force of the eruption ejecting lava from the main vent on Cumbre Vieja.
Forest fire detection satellites pick up lava hotspots
The EU earth observation agency's forest fire detection satellites observed the lava hotspots on La Palma.
La Palma eruption: drone footage shows lava flow intensifying
Drone footage shows lava flow intensifying
Night-time images captured by drone footage of the Cumbre Vieja eruption show the volcano's beauty and devastating power.
Following the partial collapse of the Cumbre Vieja volcano's cone on Saturday, a new river of lava has been streaming towards the sea, devouring banana and avocado plantations and most of the remaining houses in the town of Todoque.
Torrents of molten rock have destroyed 1,186 buildings in the three weeks since the eruption, the Canary Islands Volcanic Institute said.
About 6,000 people have been evacuated from their homes on La Palma, which has about 83,000 inhabitants.
Cumbre Vieja showing few signs of slowing down
The swifter flow of lava from the Cumbre Vieja eruption means that the affected area has now grown to 595 hectares, according to local reports.
Experts are unsure how long the eruption may last, but estimate anywhere between one and two months, or perhaps even longer.
La Palma volcano eruption: aerial footage shows huge boulders in lava flow
Boulders the size of buildings in lava flow
This dramatic footage from the Spanish Institute of Mining and Geology shows huge lumps of rock the size of three-storey buildings flowing down the mountain in the lava.
La Palma volcano eruption, live updates: welcome
Hello and welcome to our live blog for Tuesday 12 October 2021, bringing you the latest updates and information on the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano on La Palma.