La Palma volcano news summary: 15 November 2021
Cumbre Vieja volcanic eruption: live updates
- Cumbre Vieja volcano eruption now active for almost two months, after beginning on 19 September
- Volunteer worker killed while cleaning volcanic ash
- Surface area of lava flow now covers over 1,043 hectares
- More than 1,460 buildings have been severely damaged by the lava flow
- New lava headland formed in Atlantic Ocean off Los Guirres beach next to original delta
- Around 7,000 of the island's 85,000 residents have been evacuated
Useful information
- AS speaks to expert in volcanologyabout the effects of lava reaching the sea
- The lowdown on the active volcanoes on the Canary Islands
- Where are most volcanoes foundon Earth?
La Palma volcanic eruption: live footage
Dept of National Security update on lava flow surface area
In its latest update, Spain's Department of National Security says the lava flowing from the erupting Cumbre Vieja volcano has now grown to a total surface area of 1,019.79 hectares. The body also provided an update on the two headlands formed by the lava of the coast of La Palma, stating: "The two lava deltas have practically joined together and have reached a size of 40.90 hectares."
Development of seismic activity on La Palma
This video display shows the seismic activity on La Palma around the Cumbre Vieja volcano since 1 October courtesy of the National Geographic Institute of Spain.
Extent of lava flow on La Palma
Observations of the lava flow from space put the extent of the land covered since 19 September at 1042 hectares or around 1947 football fields. Another 111 partially damaged buildings were added to the tally as of Monday evening.
Timelapse video of La Palma eruption in visual and thermal
The National Geographic Institute of Spain recorded images of the Cumbre Vieja volcano on Monday with visual and thermal cameras. Looking at the images side-by-side you can see a pause in ash emissions coincides with a decreased heat plume in the thermal camera's video.
A look at week 8 of La Palma eruption
Dan Kitwood, a staff photographer for Getty Images gives a series of images from the past week as Cumbre Vieja continues to spew lava and ash on La Palma.
Video: Aerial footage of La Palma volcano
The Cumbre Vieja volcano on La Palma started erupting on September 19.
Aerial footage shows the extent of the damage caused by the lava, which has reached the ocean on the Canary island and solidified.
Tornado of ash and dust
The high temperatures generated by the lava in La Palma as well as the changing weather have led to the creation of this tornado of ash and dust.
Video: Explosive activity
Involcan - this footage of the volcano shows explosive activity at 15:45 Canarian time on Monday.
Volcano erupting almost two months
Reuters - This footage shows the Cumbre Vieja volcano in the Canary Islands erupting and spewing lava into the night sky. The volcanic eruption began on September 19.
4.4 magnitude earthquake felt on La Palma
There were a total of 18 earth tremors were registered on La Palma on Monday morning, the strongest of which, a 4.4 magnitude earthquake in Villa de Mazo shortly before 4am.
Is La Palma's volcano running out of steam?
It has been almost 60 days since Cumbre Vieja on La Palma began errupting and the majority of experts all agree that the volcano appears to be losing strength. Some believe that activity could cease some time soon if the volcano continues to get weaker.
Schools out...
School children in El Paso, Los Llanos de Aridane, Tazacorte, Tijarafe and Puntagorda won't be able to attend class tomorrow due to a deterioration in air quality. Schoolwork will be done remotely until the situation improves, the Education Department confirmed.
Coastline has gained 30 metres at Los Guirres beach
The coastline at Los Guirres beach in Tazacorte has expanded by 30 metres as a result of the deposits of molten lava from Cumbre Vieja volcano on La Palma. Since last week, Lava has been spilling onto the beach and into the sea from three different streams, forming a delta on the coast which is growing larger every day as more lava is deposited.
Olivine crystals, a by-product La Palma volcanic erruption
In recent days, Cumbre Vieja volcano has been spewing out an array of matter, including rocks containing olivine crystals - a green mafic mineral which has a number of uses. It is used in blast furnaces to remove impurities from steel and also to make jewellery. Olivine is the mineral of the yellow-green to green gemstone, "peridot." Peridot serves as a birthstone for the month of August. Olivine crystals can fetch prices ranging from 40 euros to up to 300 euros, depending on the size and colour.
No new information of first victim of La Palma volcanic erruption
PEVOLCA technical director Miguel Ángel Morcuende told reporters this afternoon that there is no new information regarding the man who died in La Palma at the weekend - the first person to die as a result of the volcanic erruption. The victim is believed to be a 72-year-old resident who was clearing ash in the exclusion zone in El Paso.
Morcuende explained that the death is still being investigated and until the results from the autopsy are known, authorities are unable to give updates on how the man died. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
Small tornado appears at base of La Palma volcano
Cumbre Vieja never fails to surprise us. On Monday, a small tornado, whipping up a column of ash and dust was spotted near the base of the volcano's cone. High temperatures due to the constant flow of lava together with changeable, humid weather conditions caused the tornado to form in La Manchas.
PM10 levels being closely monitored
PM10 (fine particle matter suspended in the air) levels have risen in Los Llanos de Aridane and the situation is being closely monitored by PEVOLCA technicians, Levels have been descending since reaching a peak last Thursday but were recorded at 13 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3). PM10 particles are less than 10 microns in diameter (approximately 1/7th the thickness of the a human hair).
Sulphur dioxide levels remain high in La Palma
Spain's National Security Department warned on Monday that while Sulphur dioxide levels have been decreasing over the past few days, readings remain high. Seismic activity is lower than in previous weeks and limited to a 20 kilometres radius. There has been a light increase in land affected by lava, which has increased by 1.12 hectares during the past 24 hours with the total area affected now at 1,019.79 hectares.
La Palma eruptions for two months
It's Day 58 of the eruption at Cumbre Vieja on the island of La Palma, with now some signs of a downward trend in its energy. This has been specified across four fundamental parameters - intermediate seismicity (10 to 15 km), volcanic tremors, terrain deformation and levels of sulphur dioxide - and suggests that we can look to the end being in sight.
Right now there are three lava flows, numbered 1, 2 and 9, and the total area affected on the island amounts to more than 1,018 hectares.
Volcanic flow update
As reported here by Vicente Soler, the plume of the volcano of #LaPalma remained without much strength yesterday as the wind blew gases and ash towards Las Manchas.
The volcanic flow, also with less force, continued towards the new land mass created and had an overflow towards the mountain of Todoque.
Volcanic research opportunity
The Geochronology and Geology Program Coordinator, Josep M. Parés, has been invited by the Institute of Natural Products and Agrobiology to La Palma.
The idea is to see the eruption of Cumbre Vieja first hand and assess the research possibilities on the ground.
La Palma watching
Allow me to share this video by Raul Pérez where he assesses the lower part of the island. The commentary is in Spanish but even if you can't follow that it gives you some good footage and a sense of what is going on.
Monday morning tremors in La Palma
Throughout this morning there have been several seismic movements, such as this one reported by IGN, which carried a magnitude of 3 and a depth of 10 km.
Within the last hour there was another at a depth of 27 km, and magnitude of 2.7.
Earthquakes may increase, say IGN
The director of the National Geographic Institute (IGN) in the Canary Islands and spokesperson for the Pevolca Scientific Committee, María José Blanco, has warned that the current level of seismic activity suggests that more earthquakes are possible.
The prediction is that these will range in intensity from V to VI on the EMS scale.
La Palma lava update: Dept of National Security
According to the latest update by Spain's Department of National Security this morning, the lava flow emanating from the Cumbre Vieja volcano now covers a surface area of 1,019.79 hectares on La Palma, an increase of 1.12 hectares on the body’s previous report.
We continue to keep a close eye on developments from all the Spanish authorities and bring them to you in English.
Eruptions continue on La Palma
Footage released by the Instituto Geológico y Minero de España shows the continuing volcanic activity on the Spanish island of La Palma.
The Cumbre Vieja volcano has been active for eight weeks now and is continuning to cause huge disruption for the island's inhabitants.
Cumbre Vieja: another angle
This video footage of the La Palma volcano was taken from the Punta Lava Lighthouse at 18.50 (Canarian time) on Sunday.
La Palma eruption: Cumbre Vieja volcano claims life of volunteer
Almost two months after it first erupted, the Cumbre Vieja volcano on La Palma has claimed its first victim. According to reports from Spanish news wire EFE, a 70-year-old man was killed while working as a volunteer cleaning up volcanic ash when the roof of the building he was on collapsed. The vast amounts of ash – which consists of fragments of volcanic rock and glass – being emitted from Cumbre Vieja has been carpeting buildings across La Palma, leading the Spanish government to mobilize military personnel to help with the clean-up.
The volunteer, who had the necessary authorization from the Island Council of La Palma to carry out the work on other properties, was on the roof of his own home in the neighbourhood of Corazoncillo on Friday when the accident occurred.
Incandescent lava flow
This photograph was taken in El Paso at 8:45 pm (Canarian time) on Sunday.
The lava flows and the plume of the lava delta are visible.
Strombolian: a volcanic phase
Rubén López, from IGNSpain, has shared a video of the Cumbre Vieja volcano in its Strombolian phase.
Cumbre Vieja eruption live updates: welcome
Hello and welcome to our live blog for Monday 15 November 2021, bringing you the latest news and information on the ongoing eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano on La Palma.