More than three months after the start of the September 19 eruption, the volcano Cumbre Vieja on La Palma Island, Canary Islands, fell asleep again.
On Christmas Day and after 10 consecutive days with no visible signs of activity, including significant lava flows, earthquakes or sulfur dioxide emissions, the authorities announced that the eruption, which is considered the longest eruption in the history of the Spanish island, as well as the most destructive of the last century in Europe it was over.
A few days before the end of the eruption, it was announced that while the volcano was supposed to show signs that things were coming to an end, authorities and local people began to assess the damage done, as well as proceed with what is expected. there will be a long recovery process.
Click on the images to see how the Cumbre Vieja volcano has changed the landscape of La Palma.
According to the data provided El País newspaperIt is estimated that the lava emanating from the volcano wiped out 1,219 hectares of land from the face of the earth, affecting more than 3,000 buildings and leading to the evacuation of 7,000 people.
During the period of activity of the volcano, more than 9000 earthquakes have occurred. The lava rivers of the Cumbre Vieja were moving towards the sea, as a result of which the size of the Spanish island increased by 43 hectares.
The region’s government estimates that the damage from the natural disaster will reach 1 billion euros, and experts say the restoration of the island could take several years, while it is noted that even after the completion of the eruption, there are still associated risks. with the release of poisonous gases and landslides.
Evolution of the La Palma disaster as seen from space
Recall that in October the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) and GeoSat published satellite images. captured 10 days after the start of the eruption on La Palma, heralding the destruction of the land and the lava flows that reached the sea.
Click images for more details.
At the time, the IPMA showed that lava emissions were as high as 700 meters per hour, creating temperatures in excess of 1000 degrees Celsius. An estimated 6,000 to 9,000 tons of sulfur dioxide are emitted into the atmosphere per day.
European satellites Copernicus also captured the disaster from space, being among the first to pick up the first seismic signals on 11 September in the southern part of the Spanish island.
In just one week, about 22,000 tremors were recorded with increasing frequency and strength, immediately indicating volcanic activity that eventually occurred on September 19.
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In November, the volcano reached a particularly aggressive phase.becoming more explosive and violent and the European satellites of Copernicus again showed the destruction inflicted on the island.
Click images for more details.
