La Palma volcano: eruption, tsunami warning | Canary Islands | Summary news, 15 October
La Palma volcanic eruption: live updates
Headlines
- 25 earthquakes recorded in the last day highest reaching 4.5 magnitude
- LaLiga to auction shirts in support of those affected in La Palma
- Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez pleads for patience
- No short or medium term end to eruption claim experts as more La Palma residents forced to evacuate
- Lava flow now covers surface area of 680 hectares according to Copernicus radar imaging
- Lava forming huge delta on La Palma coast
- Delta has claimed around 40 hectares of new land from the Atlantic
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?
Lava emissions increase
The volcano of La Palma has settled into a phase in which it is emitting more lava and less ash, with occasional overflows of magma which has caused the most active flow to continue advancing. That said, no further evacuations of the population are expected.
This greater flow, which we have recently seen reach speeds of up to 250 metres per hour, has been reflected in the increased size of the affected area. It now stands at 732 hectares, 52 added in the last 24 hours, according to the measurement of the Copernicus satellite system.
Drones have been used to bring food and water to dogs trapped on La Palma as the volcanic eruption continues.
New images capture a "lava tsunami" pouring across the island of La Palma
The volcanic eruption which began on 19 September shows no signs of letting up.
Cumbre Viejo erupts
This was the volcano in action last night with the night time pictures and videos that bit more spectacular against the night sky backdrop.
Cumbre Vieja destruction in numbers
Streams of lava have laid waste to more than 600 hectares (1,480 acres) of land and destroyed about 1,600 buildings on La Palma. About 6,000 people have been evacuated from their homes on the island, which has about 83,000 inhabitants.
German couple take refuge on boat as volcano threatens their La Palma home
Juergen Doelz and his girlfriend Jacqueline Rehm were in the process of selling their small sailboat on the Spanish island of La Palma when the Cumbre Vieja volcano erupted, forcing them to flee their dream home and move to the boat.
Doelz, 66, and Rehm, 49, who are from Germany, had been trying to sell the boat to save money after she lost her job at a car rental company due to the coronavirus pandemic.
On Sept. 19, when the volcano starting spewing red-hot lava just 4 km (2-1/2 miles) from their home in Todoque, the couple had just returned from a trip with a potential buyer. But the sale fell through as the yacht was "not sporty enough", Doelz told Reuters on the boat, moored in Tazacorte port.
A few hours later, they were ordered to evacuate their rented house with its vineyard and terrace with a sea view and had to leave behind most of their belongings.
"Luckily we still had the boat. ... And since then we have been living on this boat. It's small, but it's OK," said Doelz, who is retired.
Ash accumulation build in La Palma
Dunes of ash have gathered in many areas close to the volcano with ash covering many houses
Lava has now engulfed 732 hectares
Over 700 hectares of land on La Palma have been engulfed by lava with the molten rock eating into 52 hectares in the past 24 hours alone.
LaLiga supports La Palma
LaLiga is launching a charity auction campaign, in collaboration with Canary Island based sides UD Las Palmas and CD Tenerife, which will go ahead across the upcoming LaLiga Santander and LaLiga SmartBank matchdays. The money raised will go to the Cabildo de La Palma – the Island Council of La Palma – to cover the medium and long term needs of those affected by the eruption of the volcano on the island.
Number of buildings destroyed by lava rises to 1,817
The number of buildings which have been consumed or destroyed by molten lava flowing from Cumbre Vieja now stands at 1,817 according to figures released by Copernicus,the EU's Earth Observation Programme. The toll has risen by 269 since yesterday, with another 92 buildings reported to be at risk or partially damaged.
La Laguna is now out of bounds
La Palma's regional government have declared the district of La Laguna a no-go zone. Entry to the region via the motorway in Tazacorte is now prohibited. Around 300 people were evacuated from the area during the past few hours as the lava flow inches closer. The total number of evacuees is believed to be over 7,000.
UME toiling to clear mountains of volcanic ash
Military Emergencies Unit (UME) workers continue the battle to clear volcanic ash from the rooftops, balconies and terraces of houses on La Palma. The scale of the task can be seen in this video uploaded onto Twitter on Friday evening.
The plume of gases and ash reached a height of 4,000 metres on Friday morning, according to local authorities.
High possibility of a "light earthquake" on La Palma
PEVOLCA Technical director Rubén Fernández explained in today's press briefing that there exists "a high possibility" of a light earthquake, of a magnitude greater than 4.5 hitting La Palma - a tremor of such magnitude would be felt across the island and generally cause minor damage such as the breakage of objects.
Lava flow on north side of Cumbre Vieja creeping towards the sea
The scientific committee which advises PEVOLCA predicts that the two most active branches of lava spilling out from the volcano on La Palma will eventually diverge and continue to flow down to the sea but will likely not hit the district of La Laguna, which has been completely evacuated.
PEVOLCA technical director Rubén Fernández explained that the two branches of lav on the northern side of the volcano are approximately one kilometre from the coast and could form a new land mass if they hit the sea.
Number of evacuees reaches 7,000
PEVOLCA officials announced on Friday that the total number of people who have been displaced since Cumbre Vieja started errupting now stands at over 7,000. Of those evacuess, 321 have been relocated to the Princess Hotel in Fuencaliente while the majority of the others are staying at second homes or with friends.
No more evacuations planned in La Palma
Air quality remains well within safety parameters in La Palma, although drier weather is expected this weekend which could affect AQI readings and oblige residents to stay indoors until the situation improves. On a more positive note, authorities are not expected any more evacuations, but warn that such measures are constantly being revised.
There is a high probability right now that earthquakes above 4.5 will occur and high intensity earthquakes are occurring at significant depths, below 30 kilometers and that will continue to be felt by the general population."
FC Barcelona player Pedri remembers friends in La Palma
FC Barcelona's Canary-born footballer Pedri made a special mention for his friends in La Palma at his new contract signing ceremony today.
At a press conference following the signing of his new contract, the 18-year-old midfielder said: "It is a very happy day for me, but my first words are for my friends from La Palma, who are going throuhg a tough time"
Civil Guard Sergeant Heliodoro Fernandez and officer Raul Campillo point out the Cumbre Vieja volcano during their patrol outside the exclusion area in Los Llanos de Aridane, on the Canary Island of La Palma, Spain, October 15, 2021. REUTERS/Sergio Perez
Protective goggles and FFP2 masks distributed across La Palma
The Health Department of La Palma is distributing protective equipment to residents affected by the eruption of Cumbre Vieja, as well as to those who may be soon.
So far, 22,166 protective goggles and 280,080 FFP2 masks have reportedly been issued among the municipalities directly affected by the eruption and the rest of town halls.
The health team of the Health Area of La Palma has also received part of this shipment.
LaLiga to auction shirts for La Palma support
LaLiga is launching a charity auction campaign, in collaboration with UD Las Palmas and CD Tenerife, which will go ahead across the upcoming LaLiga Santander and LaLiga SmartBank matchdays. The money raised will go to the Cabildo de La Palma – the Island Council of La Palma – to cover the medium and long term needs of those affected by the eruption of the volcano on the island.
The action will consist of a virtual charity auction through the MatchWornShirt platform, which has extensive experience in this type of solidarity initiatives, having worked with more than 160 football clubs throughout Europe, including 14 LaLiga clubs. The objective is to raise as much money as possible through the auction of shirts signed by the players that will play in games over the upcoming LaLiga Santander and LaLiga SmartBank matchdays.
The campaign will begin today with matchdays in both competitions kicking off, and will reach its maximum visibility during the Canarian derby between UD Las Palmas and CD Tenerife tomorrow, Saturday 16 October at 6:15pm local time. The auctions will begin as each match kicks off and will last 20 days (ending 3 November), during which a campaign to raise awareness, promote and disseminate the initiative will be rolled out both nationally and internationally.
The participation of LaLiga Santander and LaLiga SmartBank clubs has been crucial in ensuring that as much money as possible is raised in aid of El Cabildo de La Palma and which, it is hoped, will go a long way to helping all those affected by the La Palma volcano:
Canary Islands ask Europe to maintain famous banana
The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the Government of the Canary Islands has asked the Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Union to maintain the historical reference values for their banana plantations.
These have been severely affected by the lava and the focus is on increasing the volume of aid to producers.
Tazacorte entrance area prohibited
La Palma's local government has prohibited access via the Tazacorte road to the area of La Laguna, Los Llanos de Aridane, due to its close proximity of the lava flow.
Those people affected will be able to collect their personal belongings at other points outside the security perimeter.
4,606 students of La Palma to return to class
The Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports of the Canary Islands has announced the return of the teaching for the students of the educational centres of Los Llanos de Aridane, El Paso and Tazacorte, which impacts on a total of 4,606 students and 583 teachers.
That said, the ANPE union believes that with the situation far from resolved, further interruptions in teaching may be ahead. They have, therefore, requested additional educational resources so that students can recoup the classes lost after the schools closed.
In addition, they have asked for alternatives to the teaching options, including the configuration of electronic devices so that students who need it can follow classes from home.
Official accounts to make donations to those affected in La Palma
Bizum: 03747 from Spain
IBAN: ES47 2100 9169 0122 0017 9456 from abroad
BIC/ SWIFT CODE: CAIXESBBXXX
Concept: Donation Volcano. Recipient: Cabildo Insular de La Palma.
Bizum: 03749 from Spain
IBAN: ES06 2100 1921 1902 0014 1752 from abroad
BIC/SWIFT CODE: CAIXESBBXXX
Concept: Donation Volcano La Palma. Addressee: Los Llanos de Aridane Town Hall.
Bizum: 03750 from Spain
IBAN: ES02 2100 7104 0822 0007 1907
BIC/SWIFT CODE: CAIXESBBXXX
Concept: Donation Volcano. Addressee: Town Hall of Tazacorte
Bizum: 03748 from Spain
IBAN: La Caixa ES26 2100 7109 3122 0015 5652 from abroad
Cajasiete ES57 3076 0480 6710 0761 6723 from abroad
BIC/SWIFT CODE: La Caixa: CAIXESBBXXX / Cajasiete: BCOEESMMO76
Concept: Contribution Volcanic Eruption. Addressee: Town Hall of El Paso
Bizum: 03165
IBAN: ES50 2100 6617 8222 0097 4717
Concept: Eruption La Palma. Addressee: Red Cross
Celebrity chef's group feeds hungry La Palma residents
Working in close proximity to the red-hot lava flowing from a volcano on the Spanish island of La Palma, emergency workers anxiously await their lunch break - and while any food would do, it tastes better when it comes from a celebrity chef's kitchen.
Chef Jose Andres' non-profit World Central Kitchen (WCK) has been delivering hot food, sandwiches and water to thousands of evacuees as well as the emergency workers overseeing residents' removal from harm's way.
"Although there are so many of us, it seems like there's a lack of personnel ... including those who come down to give us a sandwich! It seems silly but after eight hours on the ground it's fundamental," said Captain Diego Ortiz of the Guardia Civil police force.
Arriving in one of the emptied neighbourhoods in a van, WCK volunteer Pablo Pais told Reuters: "The lava's very close. Until the day before yesterday there were still people in these houses."
The non-profit started cooking 200 meals a day early in the eruption - which began on Sept. 19 - and is now making 1,400, with the amount growing daily, said Olivier de Belleroche, a 45-year-old chef from Madrid who works for WCK.
After the director of a local hotel suggested using up all the hotel's food stocks as creeping lava threatening to cut off power lines, WCK and its partners organised a large convoy of food for the military, rescue workers and evacuees, he said.
"It's very emotional, that sense of constantly being on the alert, so many people losing their homes," Belleroche mused after pulling a tray packed with dozens of sealed hot meals out of the oven in a bustling kitchen ceded by a supermarket chain.
"You grow more involved with the people - I've been doing this for four weeks now," he added, explaining that initially he had come just for a few days.
WCK head Andres is known for his innovative cooking and credited with popularising tapas in America in the 1990s.
He has recently partnered with the Archewell charity of Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle to set up a series of community relief centres in disaster-stricken areas around the world.
25 earthquakes in one night
The National Geographic Institute has registered a total of 25 seismic movements today, all of them of 2.2 and 3 magnitude, with one exception. That saw a level of 4.5, the strongest since the beginning of the eruption.
Of these, 13 have taken place in Mazo and 12 in Fuencaliente.
Air quality expected to worsen severely this weekend
María José Blanco, director of the National Geographic Institute in the Canary Islands, has communicated that in the coming days there is expected to be a decrease in air quality on the island of La Palma, with the worst likely to be on Sunday.
"Things will get worse over the weekend," meteorologist Rosalia Fernandez warned adding that "nitrogen dioxide and sulphur concentrations may skyrocket. This is a red traffic light for the most sensitive."
Pevolca is already monitoring the area for the polluting particles, and guiding people regarding home confinement if necessary. In addition, Morcuende, director of Pevolca, recommends "that people wear a mask when they go out in the street. If they have respiratory problems, they should wear an FFP2 or, better yet, if possible, they should stay indoors".
Overflowing lava flow causes "tsunami" effect
After the overflow of the lava yesterday, we have seen more fluidly and speed.
The Volcanological Institute of the Canary Islands filmed this overflow and have described its effects as a "lava tsunami".
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Volcanic overview
If you've not been keeping up to date with our coverage, News 9, a digital team from India, has put together this brief summary of what has been happening.
More footage shows extent of volcano destruction
The volcano on La Palma now covers roughly 680 hectares of the small Spanish island and continues to flow from the Cumbre Vieja. This footage from AccuWeather shows the lava continue to cascade down the side of the mountain, oozing down the road and forcing the evacuation of thousands of residents.
La Palma eruption: 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.
1,500 homes destroyed by La Palma volcano
Late last night the update was that more than 1,500 homes have been destroyed.
While many had hoped the eruption would cease to allow those impacted to evaluate the damage, the volcano has shown no signs of letter up.
Earlier this week, and additional 700 people were evacuated after the path of lava destroyed a cement factory, putting many homes and structures as risk.
Volcanic lightning filmed on La Palma
Incredible footage published here by ABC News shows flashes of volcanic lightning eminating from the Cumbre Vieja volcano on the island of La Palma. The volcano has now been active for weeks, forcing hundreds of residents to evacuate, and with no end in sight according to experts.
La Palma volcano eruption, live updates: welcome
Hello and welcome to our live blog for Friday 15 October 2021, bringing you the latest updates and information on the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano on La Palma.
The lava first began flowing way back on 19 September and many believed it would be short lived. As we now know, this was a long way from what has transpired since.