La Palma volcano: eruption, tsunami warning | Canary Islands | Summary news, 17 October
La Palma volcano eruption: live updates
Headlines
- Volcanic activity enters 29th day on Monday, having begun on 19 September
- Lava flow now covers surface area of 753.8 hectares according to Copernicus radar imaging, with 16.9 hectares added in just seven hours
- Nine more buildings destroyed by lava flow, bringing total to 1,835
- Spanish soccer governing body LaLiga to auction shirts in support of those affected in La Palma
- No short or medium term end to eruption claim experts as more La Palma residents forced to evacuate
- 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?
La Palma airport returns to operation
Canary Islands flag carrier Binter has reported that its first flight landed in La Palma this morning after almost two days of inactivity at La Palm airports due to the volcanic ash cloud caused by the Cumbre Vieja volcano
South-flowing lava stream 200m from sea
The south-flowing lave stream from Cumbre Vieja volcano is now just 200 meters from the sea, prompting authorities to step protection measures in the Tazacorte area, due to possible explosions and the emission of harmful gases.
Impressive image of lava flowing out of the Cumbre Vieja volcano on Sunday night (Photo: EFE).
Geoligists track Cumbre Vieja
Lava is continuing to spew from the active volcano on the Spanish island of La Palma and experts have noted the unusual sound made as the molten rock reacts to its surroundings.
Locals are "at the mercy of the volcano"
Four weeks after the volcano on the Spanish island of La Palma first erupted, local officials and experts are warning that there is no end in sight. Lava continues to pour from the volcano, which has seen thousands of islanders forced to evacuate their homes.
“We are at the mercy of the volcano,” Canary Islands President Ángel Víctor Torres told reporters. “It’s the only one who can decide when this ends.”
Enormous clean-up operation underway
On the Spanish island of La Palma emergency services are working to clear the ash and debris spewed from the volcano that has been active for weeks now. This video footage shows operators in face masks and full protective gear shovelling tons of debris from the ground.
Firemen dismantle cross and bell from La Laguna church
Local firemen removed the cross and bell from the Catholic church in La Laguna as a precautionary measure as the lava from the Cumbre Vieja volcano advances towards the La Palma village.
Spanish Vice President Calviño to visit La Palma Monday
Nadia Calviño will work from the stricken Canary Island on Monday and plans to meet local politicians to discuss the ongoing situation with the Cumbre Vieja eruption.
Cumbre Vieja activity on Sunday night
As always, the night time pictures of the volcano offer the most spectacular images as the Sunday night photos from Involcan show
Cumbre Vieja on Sunday night
This is the mouth of the Cumbre Vieja volcano on Sunday night (four weeks after it's initial) eruption from footage via local Canary Islands television network RTVC.
4,6 earthquake rocks La Palma
Since the Cumbre Vieja eruption four weeks ago, the island has been rocked by thousands of tremors and quakes with a significant 4,6 earthquake registered early on Sunday morning by the local seismic team. The quake was felt at 07:07 local La Palma time.
Local La Palma council's motto
The local La Palma council have amended their hashtag/Twitter profile with the message #MasFuertesQueElVolcan (We're stronger than the volcano)
22 out of 38 La Palma flights cancelled on Sunday
Airline Binter said it had cancelled all its flights to La Palma on Sunday because of ash from the volcano. "Due to the current situation of the ash cloud, operations with La Palma will continue to be paralyzed throughout today. We continue to evaluate the situation," the airline tweeted.
Almost half - 22 out of 38 - of all flights to the island on Sunday have been cancelled, state airport operator Aena said, but the airport there remains open.
Cumbre Vieja volcano in numbers
Streams of lava have laid waste to more than 742 hectares (1833 acres) of land and destroyed almost 2,000 buildings on La Palma since the volcano started erupting on Sept. 19.
About 7,000 people have been evacuated from their homes on the island, which has about 83,000 inhabitants and forms part of the Canary Islands archipelago off northwestern Africa.
Startling before/after La Palma snap
The same location but with a different scenario on the picture taken a month after the Cumbre Vieja erupted from these photos from local snapper Abian San Gil as we can appreciated the damage the lava has caused in the space of four weeks.
No end in sight to volcanic eruption on Spain's La Palma - Canaries president
There's no immediate end in sight to the volcanic eruption that has caused chaos on the Spanish isle of La Palma since it began about a month ago, the president of the Canary Islands said on Sunday.
There were 42 seismic movements on the island on Sunday, the largest of which measured 4.3, according to the Spanish National Geographical Institute.
"There are no signs that an end of the eruption is imminent even though this is the greatest desire of everyone," President Angel Víctor Torres said at a Socialist party conference in Valencia, citing the view of scientists.
Today marks four weeks since eruption began
Today marks exactly four weeks since the volcanic activity began at the Cumbre Vieja volcano on Sunday 19 September. Experts have said that the activity could last up to 84 days.
Lava still heading seawards
It may not be racing towards the water but the latest lava front continues on its journey in that direction at around 15 metres per hour and with a temperature of 1,270 °C (2,318 °F).
It is now located around 200 metres from the cliff's edge at 12:15 pm Canarian time (7:15 ET).
La Palma volcano: in pictures
More images have been captured of the volcano, this time by agency EFE, which have been shared for everyone to see. A month on from the first eruption, the situation on La Palma continues to capture the imagination, and trouble the heart.
22 flights to La Palma cancelled
According to Aena, 22 of the 38 flights scheduled for today at La Palma Airport have been cancelled. Despite this, the airport remains operational.
Almost all cancellations are inter-island flights, but six connections, split between Bilbao, Zurich and Madrid, have also been suspended.
New eruption on La Palma
At 11:45 am local time (6:45 am ET) another eruption was captured on camera.
Update of the situation on La Palma
The latest data from the European satellite Copernicus indicates that lava from the Cumbre Vieja volcano has reached 753.8 hectares. This is an increase of 16.9 hectares in the previous seven hours.
They have also confirmed that the lava has caused the destruction of 1,835 buildings (nine more than in the last report).
Drone company still awaiting permission to rescue dogs
Four dogs have been trapped in La Palma for more than a week. The animals are in a facility between the neighbourhoods of El Paraíso and Todoque, and although they are being provided food and water by drone, there is still no certainty as to when the rescue operation can be carried out.
Radio Club Tenerife have reported that the animal platform Leales.org had received confirmation from the company Aerocámara, specialized in cargo drones, that they would be willing to proceed with the rescue of the warren hounds.
Aerocámara has drones capable of carrying up to 20 kg but needs authorisation to make it happen.
Some locals will be able to collect their belongings
La Palma's local government officials have announced that the evacuated residents, at least those with properties outside the safety perimeter of the Cumbre Vieja volcano, will be able to collect their belongings from designated areas.
In addition, it has been announced that as of tomorrow, a new collection system will be in force. Access will be controlled and people will be accompanied by security personnel, after coordination with the city council.
In related news, some places in Tazacorte away from lava flow will allow irrigation to take place with fruit being cut at some of the farms.
A repeated message that we are very used to now was that these measures may be subject to change depending on weather conditions and evolution of the eruptive process.
Scientists take lava samples
A geologist from the Geological and Mining Institute of Spain (IGME), together with members of the Military Emergency Unit (UME), demonstrate the procedure for taking the temperature and sampling of the lava flow.
A steady hand required with the heat coming off it.
Solidarity with La Palma
There was a cultural show of solidarity for those affected by the volcano at the concert of La Lira and the exhibition of giants.
More damage, more quakes
Overnight there has been continued activity from the volcano with Copernicus detecting almost 2,000 destroyed buildings thus far.
Following yesterday's 4.5 magnitude, another tremor was recorded of 4.3.
Airport update: still operational
Aena has confirmed that the La Palma airport remains operational. The reminder is, however, that cancellations are possible and anyone thinking of travelling should check with their airline.
Flights cancelled
Airline company Binter stated on Saturday that the ash cloud, coming from the volcanic eruption, has forced them to cancel all flights to and from the airport of La Palma until today at 13:00 local time.
The airline stated that it was forced to take this decision due to 'force majeure' and that it will restart the activity as soon as possible and as long as the safety of the flights is guaranteed.
So far, the rest of the airports of the Canary Islands are operational.
New lava flow very close to reaching sea
It has been four weeks since the Cumbre Vieja volcano erupted, in La Palma, and the activity shows no sign of remission. Although the new opening that emerged on Friday to the southeast of the main cone has decreased in its activity, more activity there has not ruled out. The Volcanological Institute of the Canary Islands (INVOLCAN) announced that "key explosions" and lava emissions had been recorded within the area of the main cone.
Meanwhile, the two lava overflows from the mountain of La Laguna in the south, which forced the eviction of all residents of Los Llanos de Aridane, continue on their path and reached a speed of 1.3 km per hour earlier today, as reported by INVOLCAN.
Rubén Fernández, director of the Steering Committee of the Special Plan for Civil Protection and Emergency Care due to Volcanic Risk (PEVOLCA), explained that these fronts are likely to converge into one and that is expected to reach the sea in an area distinct from the other lava delta (fajana). This will, however, depend on the orography and the final direction taken by the flow.
Tacane targetted in latest eruptions
As you can see in this short video, the constant expanding of the lava is threatening other parts of the island with more locals being evacuated.
La Palma's 'lava tsunami'
The initial threat of the volcanic activity resulting in a water tsunami affecting other countries and islands may have subsided, but experts are referring to some of the current flow as a 'lava tsunami'.
Canary Island president reaffirms commitment to La Palma
The President of the Canary Islands, Ángel Víctor Torres, once again offered his commitment to helping the stricken island starting at a public event over the weekend.
"It won't be easy or fast, but I will give my all to help overcome the biggest tragedy ever to hit the island of La Palma”
Affected schools to re-open on Monday
4,606 students and 583 school staff will return on Monday next after all schools in the towns near to the Cumbre Vieja. Schools in Aridane, El Paso and Tazacorte were closed as a precautionary measure on 19 September when the volcano began to erupt.
La Palma volcano eruption updates: welcome
Hello and welcome to our live blog for Sunday 17 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.