La Palma volcano cone partly collapses, scientists monitor lava flow changes
Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, Oct 23 (EFE).- The main cone of the erupting volcano on the Spanish island of La Palma has partially collapsed, scientists from the Canary Island institute of volcanology, Involcan, said Saturday.
In addition to this development, lava streams from a secondary cone on the Cumbre Vieja volcanic ridge, which has been erupting since September 19, appears to be flowing further west than previously reported and will require monitoring, seismologist Itahiza Domínguez from the Spanish National Geographic Institute (ING) tweeted.
The ING has registered 54 earthquakes related to the eruption since last night. The largest of those temblors measured 4.3 on the Richter scale and they varied from 37 to nine kilometers in depth.
La Palma emergency committee Pevolca said constant variations in the cone, or cones in this case, were typical of a strombolian eruption.
A video from the Spanish National Research Council showed four active vents on the volcano with “diverse and intense” activity, including the emission of ash, pyroclastic material and strong lava flows.
The rivers of lava from the eruption have destroyed an area of almost 900 hectares, equivalent to over 1,200 soccer fields, and razed 2,200 buildings, including many houses, satellite imagery shows.
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