Disasters & Accidents

La Palma eruption intensifies as it enters sixth week of explosive activity

Santa Cruz de la Palma, Spain, Oct 25 (EFE).- A volcanic eruption on the Spanish island of La Palma was intensifying as it entered its sixth week with a spike in seismic activity that is expected to shake the island in the Canaries archipelago, experts warned Monday.

The latest report by the Spanish Department of Homeland Security (DSN) said that due to the partial collapse of the Cumbre Vieja’s cone, a new river of lava is heading south, flowing parallel to an already established stream.

Sunday data reports suggested that some 852.27 hectares, the equivalent of around 1,200 soccer pitches, have been affected by the eruption.

The maximum width between the furthest points of the lava rivers is roughly 2.9 kilometers.

The DSN added that there had been an increase in intermediate and deep seismic activity “with an increase in magnitudes,” which triggered 84 earthquakes in La Palma Monday morning.

The largest earthquake was of a magnitude of 3.5 on the Richter scale and most were recorded in the municipalities of Fuencaliente and Villa de Mazo.

Air quality has improved and toxic steam has dispersed over the towns of Los Llanos de Aridane, El Paso and Tazacorte. The region had also been suffering from a Saharan dust episode but the concentration of fine particles of dust in the air has also improved.

The DSN reported that the vast column of ash and sulfur had drifted southwest allowing for favorable conditions at La Palma airport.EFE

can/ch/jt

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