La Palma volcano | news summary for Friday 26 November
Cumbre Vieja volcano: latest news
Headlines
- New lava flow from fresh fissure has "almost stopped", La Palma local government says
- Canary Islands regional premier promises more homes for those displaced by eruption
- Lockdown lifted in La Palma
- All flights to and from La Palma remain suspended on Friday
- Optimism that La Palma airport will be able to operate on Saturday
- Cumbre Vieja rated at alert level 3
- First V-VI intensity earthquake recorded on La Palma
- Cumbre Vieja eruption has been active for over two months, having started on 19 September
Useful information
- AS speaks to expert in volcanology about the effects of lava reaching the sea
- The lowdown on the active volcanoes on the Canary Islands
- Where are most volcanoes found on Earth?
La Palma eruption: related articles
Real-time video footage of Cumbre Vieja main vent
Involcan continue to supply us with great images and footage of Cumbre Vieja - here, a video of the main vent taken at 11.00 hours local time this morning. Gases and smoke pouring out of the main vent shown in real-time.
New lava flow being monitored
A new lava flow has emerged from Cumbre Vieja volcano, which technicians are referring to as lava flow No.10. Spain's Military Emergencies United have been taking samples of molten lava for analysis during the past couple of days.
Time-lapse video of volcano
Spain's National Geographical Institute has put together this time-lapse video of the erupting Cumbre Vieja volcano, filmed between midnight last night and 5pm today (local time):
Seen from the Tajuya viewpoint, the erupting Cumbre Vieja volcano continues to expel lava on the Canary Island of La Palma.
(Photo: REUTERS/Borja Suarez)
Video of volcano's main vent
The Canary Islands Volcanology Institute (Involcan) has shared this video of the erupting Cumbre Vieja volcano's main vent, filmed on Friday evening local time:
Storms rage as volcano continues to erupt
The photographer Antonio Camacho has taken this arresting, spectacular image of the erupting Cumbre Vieja amid thunderstorms on La Palma:
Latest update on eruption from Cabildo de La Palma
According to the latest update provided by the Cabildo de La Palma, the island’s local government on Friday:
- The air quality is good across La Palma
- There is optimism La Palma airport will be able to operate on Saturday
- The new lava flow emanating from the fissure that opened on Thursday has now “almost stopped”
- Seismic activity on the island is lower than in previous weeks
Copernicus issues latest Cumbre Vieja update
The Copernicus Earth observation programme has released its latest update on the Cumbre Vieja volcano eruption, based on radar imagery taken by the Italian Space Agency’s COSMO-Skymed satellite.
According to Copernicus’ new figures, the lava flow on La Palma measures 1,094.7 hectares, and has caused the destruction of 2,695 buildings on the Canary Island.
The erupting Cumbre Vieja volcano seen on Friday from the Tajuya viewpoint on La Palma, Spain.
(Photo: REUTERS/Borja Suarez)
Video: River of lava flows to Atlantic Ocean
Reuters - This video footage shows a river of lava flowing from the Cumbre Vieja volcano on La Palma island to the Atlantic Ocean.
Video: live footage of the Cumbre Vieja volcano
RTVC's aerial view video footage captures the latest from the Cumbre Vieja volcano in La Palma.
La Palma's homeless animals in the rain
The shelter for animals abandoned by the volcanic eruption on La Palma suffered the consequences of heavy rain last night and this morning.
Reuters - This video footage shows molten rock from the Cumbre Vieja volcano on the Spanish Canary Island of La Palma.
Video: Cumbre Vieja volcano
Involcan have released video footage of the Cumbre Vieja volcano in La Palma on Friday at 12.15 pm local time.
La Palma eruption: new lava flow races down side of volcano
The opening of a new fissure on Cumbre Vieja has produced a new lava flow, the 10th since the eruption began, travelling at 600 metres per hour.
Images of new lava flow
The Spanish Mining and Geography Institute has released these images of the latest lava flow to emerge from Cumbre Vieja, following the opening of a new fissure on the volcano on Thursday.
Local residents and tourists observe the Cumbre Vieja volcano from the Tajuya viewpoint on La Palma on Friday morning.
Photo: REUTERS/Borja Suarez
Flights to La Palma remain suspended
Local airline Binter, which serves the Canary Islands, has said that flights to and from La Palma will remain suspended on Friday "until flying conditions improve."
Spanish military helps to study new lava flow
The new lava flow emanating from Cumbre Vieja after the opening of a new fissure - which is the 10th active flow since the eruption began - is being studied by a team from the Spanish Military Unit (UME) and the Spanish Institute of Mining and Geology.
Cumbre Vieja on Friday morning
The Canary Islands Volcanology Institute has released footage of the eruption on Friday morning, showing the huge plume of ash and smoke billowing into the sky over La Palma.
Worries that tourist season is a washout for La Palma
The ongoing eruption on La Palma has made getting to and off the island difficult with airlines having to suspend flights when the ash cloud blows in the direction of the airport. The fall and winter seasons are the high season for the Canary Islands when Northern Europeans flee the cold to enjoy the stable temperatures generally in the high 70s.
Many fear those who depend on tourism for their living won't make it through the season. Hopes are pinned on the eruption stopping in time to receive travelers for Easter Holiday break.
Where are most volcanoes located?
Volcanoes are found the world over, forming mainly at the edges of tectonic plates but can also arise over “hot spots” such as the one that created the Hawaii Islands. In total there are potentially some 1,500 active volcanoes on Earth according the US Geological Survey. Of those, 51 are now in continuing eruption status, the most recent On La Palma in the Canary Islands.
Many of those volcanoes are located on the “Ring of Fire” which is located all along the Pacific Rim. However, the greatest number of volcanoes are hidden from view deep under water on the ocean floor.
Footage shows result of weeks of volcanic activity
Cumbre Vieja volcano has had very serious consequences for the people of La Palma since it first erupted in September, disrupting the local economy, forcing thousands to flee their homes and leaving many stranded as the island's airport was forced to close.
After two months of lava flow, the island's total size has actually grown considerably, thanks to the lava which has cooled and solidified when meeting the sea. Experts estimate that an additional 43 hectares have been added since it first erupted.
Recording volcanic noise
Sara Sánchez is a scientist who works for Involcan making digital recordings of the noise which the volcano on La Palma has been making since it began erupting on 19 September.
Sara explained that sounds are recorded using a variety of high-sensitivity microphones both on land and underwater. The sound recordings, some of them infrasound and not within the frequency of human hearing (<20Hz) can help give them a clearer idea of how volcanic processes work.
Nat Geo photographer reveals Cumbre Vieja experience
National Geographic photographer Arturo Rodríguez was taking a shower at his home in Tenerife, the largest of the Spanish Canary Islands, when he heard an alarmed voice blare from the TV in the next room. "It just erupted! It just erupted—I can't believe it!" the reporter yelled into the camera.
In the weeks leading up to that fateful September day, a series of earthquakes had rattled the neighboring island of La Palma, hinting at the movement of magma under the surface. Rodríguez, who was born and raised in La Palma, was preparing for a trip to photograph scientists as they monitored the island's volcanoes, which had slumbered for the past 50 years. And then one roared into life.
Regional premier promises more homes for displaced
Responding to a Radio Televisión Canaria report on two La Palma residents who have been handed the keys to a new flat after being displaced from their home because of the Cumbre Vieja volcanic eruption, the Canary Islands’ regional premier, Ángel Víctor Torres Pérez, says his government is to acquire more houses for those affected by the disaster.
“@RTVCes news report that reflects the relief of two siblings who lost their house because of the #LaPalmaEruption and who today, together with 10 more families, have been given a house,” Torres Ruiz wrote on Twitter on Thursday. “Soon 75 more will be bought. Before the end of the year, 100 will be at our disposal to provide a provisional response for those affected.”
Images of new lava flow
The Canary Islands Volcanology Institute (Involcan) published video footage of the new lava flow emanating from the erupting Cumbre Vieja, after a new fissure opened up in the volcano on Thursday.
New lava flow "moving at a great speed"
The Spanish Geology and Mining Institute (IGME) shared this photograph of the new lava flow emanating from the erupting Cumbre Vieja on Thursday night, following the opening of another vent in the volcano today. According to the IGME, the lava in the new flow is “moving at a great speed” and has an average temperature of 1,024ºC.
New lava flow moving at 600 metres/hour
According to the Canary Islands Volcanology Institute (Involcan), which has been releasing video images of the new lava flow, the fresh stream of lava emanating from the new fissure in the Cumbre Vieja volcano is travelling at 600 metres per hour.
La Palma photo wins Time magazine recognition
A photograph by Emilio Morenatti of La Palma covered in volcanic ash has been named among Time magazine's 100 best photos of the year.
Cumbre Vieja volcano live updates: hello and welcome
Good morning and welcome to our dedicated live feed on Cumbre Vieja, the volcano on the Spanish island of La Palma which has now been active for more than two months.
Thousands of local residents have been forced to evacuate their homes and experts are still unsure of how long the eruption will continue for.