The lava flow from the volcano Cumbre Vieja on the island of La Palma (Canary Islands, Spain) is gradually approaching the sea, and now “La Vanguardia” is advancing at a distance of less than a kilometer.
According to the latest measurements from the Copernicus satellite Earth observation system, lava, which in some areas reaches a thickness of 50 meters, has affected 686 buildings between houses and farms. In addition, magma has already destroyed 22.2 kilometers of roads, and the stream stretched over 258 hectares.
“The lava flow is fairly stationary and is less than a thousand meters off the coast of Tazacorte (where it is expected to reach the sea),” explained Miguel Angel Morcuende, Technical Director of the Volcanic Risk Prevention Plan for the Canary Islands (Pevolca). in an interview with RVTE.
Jose Luis Barrera, volcanologist at the Famed College of Geologists (ICOG), emphasizes that he cannot “tell what is going to happen. We waited two or three days for the lava to reach the coast, but in the lowlands it is slower. “
On Sunday afternoon, the volcano roared violently and simultaneously erupted fluid magma and a column of two-headed pyroclasts. However, yesterday, shortly before dawn, it was quiet for two hours.
After that, a new eruption last night regained its strength, which makes scientists doubt what could happen in the next few days.
“We’ve seen it on other volcanoes. The underwater volcano El Hierro had a few hours of calm in December, but the eruption did not stop until February, said Itaiza Dominguez, an expert at the Spanish National Geographic Institute (IGN).
The official says it is not known “whether the stops will be short-lived and whether they will be resumed. In any case, the pulsation of the ash did not stop, ”he explains.
