Among research outputs related to the eruption in the last month was an ecological and evolutionary investigation by PhD student María Guerrero and colleagues at the University of Malaga during the eruption. One conclusion was that for the first time, a link between the ‘woodiness’ of a plant has been linked to resilience to volcanic eruptions, as they found woody plants survived whereas many more herbaceous plants could not tolerate the conditions of the eruption. They also found that insects, lizards and some small bird species were the most affected animals during the eruption.

A new paper on the eruption has been published by researchers from Switzerland, Spain, Italy and the UK, focusing on the ‘hybrid’ eruption style which as simultaneously explosive and effusive, and observed during much of the eruption. The work offers strategies for the dedicated recording of these variations in eruption style and demonstrates the immense value of the tephra deposits around the island for providing insights into the eruptive dynamics.

The latest research from the Spanish Oceanography Institute (IEO) have recorded algal blumes on the bottoms of the lava deltas, with the rate of recovery appearing faster than expected. Their work has also verified the survival of many important species of corals and other organisms even in close proximity to the lava flows.

In terms of infrastructure, the road across the lava flows between La Laguna and Las Norias, which opened in June, is now finally open continuously as streetlights have now been installed. Previously, due to the lack of streetlights, it was only open between the hours of 6am and 10pm. The construction of the road is said to be 90% completed and has cost around 5 million Euros and has been completed entirely by companies based on La Palma.

New statistics have revealed that 230 homes that were isolated by the lava flows have now been reconnected due to various paths through the edges of the lava flows. In some cases, utilities have even been restored to some of these homes.

However, controversy still remains over the construction and route of a new coastal road to the west of the La Laguna-Las Norias road. A meeting was needed on the 17^th November between the reconstruction commissioner and the platform of those affected to resolve misunderstandings about the road. However, a final resolution of the route, between the original controversial route or the alternative proposed by those affected, has yet to arrive.

Further hardship for those affected continues in La Bombilla and Puerto Naos, where residents still cannot return to their homes due to dangerous CO₂ concentrations. For the first time homeowners have been allowed unsupervised access in certain areas, although access is only allowed between 9am-1pm on certain days. The affected people in La Bombilla and Puerto Naos continue to protest and have gone to court over the lack of access. Currently, 162 people affected by the eruption still remain in hotels, many of them from these areas.

Other difficulties continue in the delivery of temporary housing, with only 44 families relocated into temporary ‘container’ houses so far. Furthermore, residents have reported difficulties in obtaining the segregation and construction licenses allowing them to construct new homes.

Finally, two new significant sources of financial aid have been promised; firstly, 9.5 million euros from the EU, and secondly an additional 100 million Euros from the Government of the Canary Islands for the 2023 budget, as well as a 60% personal income tax deduction for inhabitants of La Palma.

Sources: La Palma Ahora, Cabildo de La Palma, El Time, ABC España