Volcano on La Palma spits ash and smoke: "Pulsating lava fountain" breaks out

On La Palma, the volcano, part of the Cumbre Vieja mountain range, still determines what is happening: the location on the Canary Island at a glance.

Update from Sunday, 11/07/2021, 3:25 p.m.: For seven weeks, the volcano in the Cumbre Vieja mountain range on the Canary Island of La Palma has caused a stir, on the small island there is a state of emergency due to the volcanic eruption. And so far there is no end in sight to the volcanic eruption, say experts. So far, there is no scientific data that would suggest that the volcano will be extinct in the near future, the dpa news agency quotes a spokeswoman for the Pevolca emergency committee. The number of earthquakes would have decreased somewhat and sulfur dioxide emissions fell to 26,000 tons on Saturday (November 6th, 2021) – these are normal fluctuations that do not yet allow the all-clear, according to Carmen López.

Over the volcano on La Palma there is a large black cloud of smoke on Sunday, which the wind drives towards the southwest towards the sea, as reported by the state television broadcaster RTVE. People in poor health in the villages over which the cloud of smoke is moving were advised not to leave their homes if possible.

Volcano on La Palma has been spitting ash, lava and smoke for weeks

+++ 1 p.m .: The volcano on the Canary Island of La Palma has been spitting lava, ash and smoke for weeks. There are repeated explosions on the Cumbre Vieja mountain range, the specialist portal Volcano Discovery reports of “pulsating, ash-rich lava fountains” (see update from 9:00 am).

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Now recordings from a drone from the Instituto Geológico y Minero de España, a research institute from Madrid, show the devastating consequences of the volcanic eruption. The video recording clearly shows the route of the lava around the volcanic eruption. This clearly shows how far the lava has already fought its way.

Volcano on La Palma: “Pulsating lava fountains” – danger from “volcanic bombs”

Update from Friday, 05.11.2021, 9.00 a.m.: The situation on the Cumbre Vieja mountain range on the Canary Island of La Palma seems to be stabilizing. The specialist portal Volcano Discovery reports that the lava flows on the slope of the volcano have “not developed significantly”. Nevertheless, the volcano continues to emit “pulsating, ash-rich lava fountains”. In addition, there are “at times stronger explosions”.

The volcanological institute of the Canary Island distributed the latest images of the still very active volcano on Thursday evening. These coincide with the reports on lava fountains and eruptions.

La Palma: Flashes of smoke cloud – “volcanic bombs” threaten the island

Update from Thursday, 04.11.2021, 11.00 a.m.: A cloud consisting of ash, lava and smoke emerges continuously from the volcano on La Palma. Furthermore, he does not come to rest. Recently, more and more “volcanic bombs” fell down the Cumbre Vieja mountain range (see update from 03.11.2021, 11.00 a.m.). In addition, lightning bolts were apparently observed in the ash cloud.

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This is shown by video recordings of the volcanological institute Involcan, which spread the local medium La Palma Ahora. In it you can see the massive, dark cloud rising from the volcano. According to La Palma Ahora, “electrical activities” can also be seen in it, which should have occurred on Tuesday evening (02.11.2021).

Update from Wednesday, 03.11.2021, 11.00 am: “Volcanic bombs”, lava flows and earthquakes: The volcano on La Palma is still restless and its eruption is life-threatening. On Wednesday morning at 7.27 a.m. Canarian time (8.27 a.m. Central European Time, CET) two earthquakes with a magnitude of 4.8 and 5.0 shook the island a few seconds after the other. As reported by the National Geographic Institute (IGN) in Spain, the epicentres were in the municipality of Villa de Mazo, several kilometers east of the Cumbre Vieja volcanic chain.

According to the online portal eldiario.es, these are some of the strongest earthquakes since the volcanic eruption began on September 19. According to the IGN, these earthquakes were felt all over La Palma as well as in parts of Tenerife and La Gomera. A total of around 41 seismic movements had occurred during the night. The airport company AENA reported in the morning via Twitter that all Canarian airports are in operation. At La Palma airport, however, all flights have been canceled for today’s Wednesday.

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Also on Tuesday evening (02.11.2021) there were again eruptions in the Cumbre Vieja on La Palma. The Canary Islands Volcanic Institute (Involcan) shared, among other things, a video of an eruption at 7 p.m. Canarian time (8 p.m. CET).

La Palma: Life-threatening “volcanic bombs” roll down the slopes

First message from Tuesday, 02.11.2021, 23:05: La Palma – The volcano on La Palma continues to keep the island population in suspense. Lava makes its way inexorably and leaves destruction. The debris that was spewed out of the volcano during the eruption is life threatening.

As the Spanish newspaper El Independiente reports, in addition to the gigantic amounts of ash that the volcano emits, there are also so-called “volcanic bombs”. This is a pyroclastic material that is ejected with virtually every volcanic eruption. People in the immediate vicinity are in acute danger of death as they can be killed or run over.

Volcano on La Palma spews “volcanic bombs”

Videos in social networks show volcanic bombs on the slopes of the volcano on La Palma. An impressive recording received a lot of attention. You can see how a ball, much larger than a soccer ball made of hot lava, rolls down the volcano. The surface of the chunk looks gray and unspectacular. On closer inspection, however, you can see the glowing lava inside. Geologist Harri Geiger shared the video and received more than 600,000 views.

On Tuesday afternoon (November 2nd, 2021) the volcanological institute of the Canary Islands reported that large amounts of volcanic bombs had fallen on the southern slope of the volcano.

La Palma: volcanic eruption paralyzes air traffic

Since the beginning of the volcanic eruption on September 19th, the lava, some of which has a temperature of almost 1300 degrees, has destroyed or damaged more than 2700 buildings on La Palma. Already 975 hectares are covered with a layer of lava several meters thick. More than 7,000 people have had to be brought to safety since the volcano erupted. Experts cannot say when the outbreak will end.

Air traffic on the island was paralyzed again on Tuesday. The airport operator Aena announced that all flights to the Atlantic island off the west coast of Africa had been canceled due to large amounts of volcanic ash. In addition, 22 schools were closed because the concentration of sulfur dioxide in the air was too high in some parts of the island, reported the state TV broadcaster RTVE, citing the authorities. (tvd / kke / tu / tab with AFP / dpa)

Rubriklistenbild: © Miguel Calero / Imago Images