La Palma volcano: summary 2 december | Canary Islands
La Palma volcano: live updates
- Cumbre Vieja eruption now in its 11th week, having begun on 19 September
- Second cone is more active than main one; lava jet shot 500 metres into the sky
- Architects' association calls for 'new city' competition to rehouse those displaced by eruption
- Nearly 3,000 buildings destroyed, per Copernicus Earth observation programme
- Lava flow stops just 800m from La Laguna
- Group of Spanish politicians to visit La Palma on fact finding mission
Useful information
- Volcanologist talks to AS about the effects of lava reaching the sea
- A look at the active volcanoes on the Canary Islands
- Where are most volcanoes located on Earth and how are they formed?
La Palma eruption: related articles
- Cumbre Vieja eruption now in its 11th week, having begun on 19 September
- Active Volcano Foundation scientists suggest the volcanic area be used to "create a nature reserve"
- Second cone is more active than main one; lava jet shot 500 metres into the sky
- Architects' association calls for 'new city' competition to rehouse those displaced by eruption
- Nearly 3,000 buildings destroyed, per Copernicus Earth observation programme
- Lava flow stops just 800m from La Laguna
- Group of Spanish politicians to visit La Palma on fact finding mission
Useful information
- Volcanologist talks to AS about the effects of lava reaching the sea
- A look at the active volcanoes on the Canary Islands
- Where are most volcanoes located on Earth and how are they formed?
La Palma eruption: related articles
Lava extends
Once can appreciate the extent of the lava flow with this photo of a traffic sign is covered by the lava of the Cumbre Vieja volcano in the La Laguna neighborhood, on the Canary Island of La Palma, Spain
(pic B.Suarez:Reuters)
Cumbre Vieja has been gearing up for eruption for 4 years
The Cumbre Vieja volcano on the Canary Island of La Palma has been four years in the making, a preliminary analysis of data suggest and this is reported by Queens College New York volcanologist Marc-Antoine Longpré in a paper published today in Science.
A collection of images from the 11th week of La Palma erutpion
The eruption in La Palma has been going strong for 74 days as of Thrusday with no signs of letting up however much residents would like this nightmare for them to end. From the destruction though come incredible images, here is a montage of some from this week.
Volcanic geyser on La Palma
What was the secondary cone on Cumbre Vieja has now become the primary source of lava spewing, at incredible heights, out of the volcano. With the shift lava is flowing down the slope over the center of the lava field the amount of fresh molten rock on the northern edge has reduced.
Morning view of the volcano on La Palma
Thursday morning residents on La Palma woke up to beautiful blue skies with "rotor clouds" forming in the wake of the mountain, and a volcano that keeps erupting. This timelapse footage provided by the Spanish national weather service was shot from the Tazacorte beach courtesy of Federico Martínez.
WATCH: Cumbre Vieja volcano eruption
Stunning timelapse footage of the Cumbre Vieja volcano shows the vast extent of the lava flows on the Spanish island of La Palma. The volcano has now been active for well over two months and thousands of local residents have been forced to leave their homes.
Flow concentrates in the center of the area covered by lava
The lava coursing down Cumbre Vieja has concentrated in the central river depriving the number eight flow of material.
More hectares in La Palma sea
Another evening of stunning imagery in the Canary Island as Cumbre Vieja continues to erupt.
The second cone opening is currently more active than the main one.
500 metre lava jet on Cumbre Vieja
Can you imagine a jet of lava firing half a kilometre into the air? No? Well have a look at this...
Lava flow La Palma timelapse
At dusk last night, the timelapse video below was shot showing the lava flows, and those doing studies nearby.
Volcanologists ask for Cumbre Vieja to be left alone
Experts participating in an international volcano congress, held today in Lanzarote, have asked for the Cumbre Vieja area of La Palma to serve as a study area for scientists.
Llorenç Planagumà, scientific coordinator of the Active Volcano Foundation and expert in the volcanic area of La Garrotxa, said that "it is important to know what we walk on and know what types of volcanoes we have," so he said that, "we should not interfere with the main cone, craters and the lava flows."
He called on the area to be used to "create a nature reserve" that in addition to experts could attract visitors in the future.
Inside a volcano's cone
More dramatic images coming from La Palma as night falls. Here you can see inside the cone of the Cumbre Vieja volcano.
In this handout photograph taken and released by the Spanish Military Emergency Unit earlier this week, the Cumbre Vieja volcano spews lava, ash and smoke on La Palma.
It has been more than two months since Cumbre Vieja began erupting, forcing more than 7,000 people out of their homes as the lava burnt its way across huge swathes of land on the western side of La Palma.
The island is experiencing its third eruption in a century, with previous ones in 1949 and 1971.
Photo: AFP PHOTO / LUISMI ORTIZ / SPANISH MILITARY UNIT (UME)
UME on La Palma hit by covid-19 outbreak
The Spanish Military Emergency Unit (UME) has been deployed in La Palma since the early days of the eruption to help out with security and the clean-up operation on the island, as well as assisting government agencies with investigations into the geological make-up of the erupting volcano. On Thursday it was confirmed that 11 members of the specialist unit have contracted covid-19 and will have to go into quarantine.
Copernicus map of lava evolution on La Palma
The EU's Copernicus earth observatory has been providing detailed maps of the destruction on La Palma, and this one shows the trajectory of each of the separate flows from the volcano, as well as the new eruptive vents and the extent of the two deltas that have formed in the Atlantic Ocean.
No let up from Cumbre Vieja
After a slight truce this afternoon, Cumbre Vieja resumed its strombolian activity late on Thursday afternoon, as this footage from the Canary Islands Volcanology Institute shows.
Thursday's Copernicus update
Earlier today, the Copernicus EU Earth observation programme issued its latest update on the lava flow emanating from the Cumbre Vieja volcano. Per Copernicus, the lava flow now covers 1,163.7 hectares and has destroyed 2,790 buildings.
231 earthquakes on La Palma yesterday
Spain's National Geographical Institute says there were 231 earthquakes on La Palma yesterday. This is considerably lower than Tuesday's total of 341, a record figure since the Cumbre Vieja volcano began erupting.
Where are most volcanoes located?
How are volcanoes formed and where are they most commonly found on Earth?
Binter to increase La Palma flights
Regional Canary Island airline Binter have confirmed added flights to and from LaPalma over the forthcoming long holiday weekend. They have scheduled 32 new flights between December 5 and 9 connecting both islands of Tenerife and Gran Canaria .
25 Canary Islanders to do charity 'Camino de Santigo'
25 young adults from the Canary Islands, will walk the 'Camino de Santiago' in Galicia in a bid to raise funds for those on the island of La Palma, affected by the eruption of the volcano. The expedition from the Canary Islands, which features several young people from La Palma, departs this Thursday from Gran Canaria to A Coruña on a Binter flight.
Gas level leads to Puerto Naos evacuation
The regional La Palma council has confirmed that the Puerto Naos area is to be evacuated due to high levels of toxic gases emanating from the ongoing Cumbre Vieja volcano eruption.
Local government says that aid to La Palma "is arriving"
Tension grew in the Canary Island regional parliament yesterday as politicians clashed with the the opposition accused the Canary Islands government of allowing many victims to live "on charity".
La Palma Govt. promotes 'buy local' Xmas campaign
With many smaller local businesses suffering as a result of the disruption to life on the island caused by the volcano, the local government has established a 'buy local' campaign ahead of Christmas encouraging locals to help out shops and small company's on the stricken island.
No current travel issues in La Palma
The local La Palma government has confirmed that all air and maritime access to the island are working normally with the island experience severe travel disruption since the Cumbre Vieja volcano originally sparked into live on 19 September.
24 tremors hit La Palma overnight
A tremor measuring 4.2 on the Richter Scale was one of the 24 earthquakes in La Palma overnight.
Cumbre Vieja vecoming 'more active'
Lava flow is affecting previously spared areas of the Spanish island, while an increase in tremors and emissions suggests the volcano is becoming more active.
Lava flow stops 800m from La Laguna
There were concerns among the citizens of La Laguna that moving lava would force them to flee the town but the flow has suddenly stopped some 800m from the town.
Cumbre Vieja eruption live updates: welcome
Good morning and welcome to our daily live blog 2 December 2021, bringing you the latest news on the Cumbre Vieja volcano on La Palma, which has been erupting since 19 September.