La Palma volcano | news summary for Tuesday 2 November

Solidarity tourism on La Palma

Olga Reinoso took advantage of the All Saints Day public holiday to see the erupting volcano on La Palma but like other tourists she wanted to help islanders whose homes have been destroyed and crops ruined.

Tourists are keen to help La Palma by spending money to boost the island's economy.

"In a passive way, our way to help is to come here to visit the volcano, which is something unique, but we contribute with money by spending money at hotel, restaurants, car rental,” Reinoso, who is from the nearby island of Fuerteventura, told Reuters.

The Canary Islands Volcanic Emergency Plan (Pevolca) has restricted access to the roads near the Cumbre Vieja volcano so that security and emergency teams can operate unhindered.

However, Pevolca has set up a free bus service so visitors can access the volcano area from a safe distance.

Since the eruption began on September 19, lava from the volcano has covered nearly 900 hectares (2,200 acres) of land, destroying around 2,000 buildings and many banana plantations. More than 7,000 people have had to evacuate their homes.

Photo: AFP PHOTO / LUISMI ORTIZ / SPANISH MILITARY UNIT (UME)

Inside the Cumbre Vieja cauldron

Dramatic drone footage looking into the cauldron of Cumbre Vieja demonstrating the fury of the eruption on La Palma. The volcano has been spewing lava for 46 days since breaking through the surface 19 September. 

Visual of seismic activity on La Palma

Programmer and self-described data graphics addict Pdero Suarez presents a 30 second visual of the seismic activity on La Palma staring the week before the eruption on Cumbre Vieja continuing through to 1 November.

Lava continues to flow on La Palma

A Canary Island TV drone recorded the lava flow rushing down the slope of Cumbre Vieja this evening at 8:30 pm local time. The eruption began just over six weeks ago. To watch other drone flyovers, the channel posts a daily list on YouTube.

What to do with all the volcanic ash

The Cumbre Vieja volcano on La Palma has now covered over 3,000 hectares with over 10 million cubic meters of ash since it began erupting 19 September. Crews and residents do what they can to remove the grit from buildings, roads and just about any other surface blackened by the material. 

One local company that has four decades of experience treating construction materials is collecting the ash in hopes of using it to fertilize crops in the area. The volcanic ash is rich in calcium, magnesium, iron and potassium, minerals that could benefit the banana, avocado and grape crops on the island. 

Expanse of La Palma lava flow

The European Union Copernicus Emergency Management Service released its latest map of the lava flow on La Palma from 1 November. Over 2,600 buildings have now been destroyed. Molten rock from the eruption now covers 987.9 hectares with the most recent flows spreading out from the southern edge.

Spanish Navy studies possibility of bringing farmers to their plots

The lava flow on La Palma has spread over more than 987 hectares as of 1 November forcing thousands of residents from their homes and farms. This week the Spanish Navy will determine whether it is feasible using military boats to land farmers and workers near Puerto Naos in areas cut off by the lava field so that they can check on their plots and irrigation systems.

Lava tubes overflow

Incredible footage taken on Tuesday shows pools of molten rock feeding the lava tubes overflowing and spreading over the lower part of the Cumbre Vieja volcanic cone.

Lava bombs sprew from Cumbre Vieja volcano in La Palma

New images capture a close up look at "lava bombs" that have begun to emerge from the volcano in La Palma.

How many structures have been destroyed in La Palma?

Spanish authorities have reported that more than 2,500 structures have been destroyed during the eruption. With no end in sight, new areas are threatened as new lava flows and mouths emerge.

Time-lapse video of Cumbre Vieja ash cloud

Here is a time-lapse video of how the ash cloud emanating from the Cumbre Vieja volcano has developed over the course of today:

In this handout photograph taken and released by the Spanish Military Emergency Unit (UME), a member of the Spanish Army's RDNBQ (Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Defence Regiment) monitors the gases in the ash-covered areas following the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano, on the Canary island of La Palma.

(Photo by Luismi Ortiz / UME / AFP)

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The lowdown

Residents allowed home to collect personal belongings

Residents who have been evacuated from their homes in La Jurona, Jedey and Las Manchas de Abajo will be allowed to back to collect any personal belongings they need on Tuesday. A total of 465 residents are currently in temporary accomodation in two hotels on La Palma after being forced to flee their homes.

Cumbre Vieja expels cluster of volcanic bombs

More fascinating video footage supplied by INVOLCAN which shows Cumbre Vieja volcano in action early on Tuesday afternoon, spitting out a cluster of molten rocks known as 'volcanic bombs'. These bombs are expelled due to the build up of gas pressure inside the volcano and usually cool before making impact with the ground.

Flights to La Palma

Binter has extended the temporary suspension of flights to La Palma due to the evolution of the ash cloud from the volcanic eruption.

Thermo images of the lava

Over the past six weeks we have become rather used to seeing a variety of different image types of the volcanic activity on La Palma. One of those has been through thermographic technology and in the latest of these (below) you can see the main vent and the lava flows.

This was taken during yesterday's scientific flight by a Civil Guard helicopter.

La Palma's east wind blows

The self-described volcano monitoring scientist and seismologist, Itahiza, has shared on his Twitter account a snapshot showing the ash plume coming from the Cumbre Vieja volcano, in La Palma.

This episode is leaving behind a number of iconic images along with destruction.

Some La Palma school classes suspended

The Ministry of Education, Universities, Culture and Sports of the Government of the Canary Islands has announced that on-site classes are suspended in the schools of five municipalities of La Palma due to the high levels of ash.

Classes will be online in El Paso, Los Llanos de Aridane, Tazacorte, Tijarafe and Puntagorda, as a consequence of the ash expelled by the Cumbre Vieja volcano.

La Palma clean up continues

Like painting the Golden Gate Bridge, it feels like the ash clean up is a constant task. As soon as you've finished, more needs removed.

Dramatic photo as young family watch eruption

Reuters' photos of the week includes this one showing a woman climbing a hill with a child to see the Cumbre Vieja volcano as it continues to erupt in Tacande de Arriba.

Ash cover in La Palma

Lava has been flowing and causing destruction - as you'll know in great detail if you've been keeping track of our daily feed - but another challenge has been that of falling ash.

Here are a few images to give you an idea of the amount.

La Palma's dead remembered

In case you missed it yesterday - which was All Saints Day - here is a video showing the tribute made by the Spanish Armed Forces in honour of the dead in La Palma.

Over the last few weeks, ash from the volcano has covered some cemeteries and normal access is not possible.

Lava tubes on La Palma

This fascinating footage of the lava running down from the volcano at Jedey, shows how the very fluid lava enters the lava tubes.

Lighting up Cumbre Vieja

This stunning picture was taken by photographer Abián San Gil yesterday and illustrates the power of the volcanic activity still ongoing on La Palma.

More images of the La Palma volcano

We received more drone footage late yesterday from the skies above Cumbre Vieja. Here you can see more openings on the volcano.

La Palma volcano spews red hot 'lava bombs'

One of the less obvious dangers of the volcano are steaming hot rocks known as 'lava bombs'. You'd be wise never to pick them up if they roll anywhere near you.

Hello and welcome to our live blog for Tuesday 2 November 2021, bringing you the latest updates and information on the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano on La Palma.

Yes, Halloween is over, we're into another new month and despite the fact that many believed it would be short-lived when the lava first began flowing way back on 19 September, we're still going. From what has transpired since, the situation is showing no signs of ending but we'll keep you across developments.