25 Apr La Palma Reconstruction – March 2025
La Palma’s Reconstruction: March 2025 Update
News roundup from across La Palma regarding science occurring in La Palma, reconstruction efforts, aid provided to residents and industries, and other relevant news. Sources this month:
Sources for all reconstruction updates: La Palma Ahora, Cabildo de La Palma, El Time, ABC España, El Valle de Aridane, El Dia, Mirame, Planeta Canario, Canarias 7, El Diario, National Geographic
Reconstruction
- LP-2 reconstruction remains complex and delayed – The recovery of the LP-2 road across the lava flows between Tajuya and Las Manchas is still yet to move forward despite government assurances, drawing criticism from opposition political parties. The Cabildo has allocated €300,000 to repave the entrance of the LP-2 in Los Llanos de Aridane, but this area was not affected by the volcano.
- Updates on housebuilding targets – In an interview, President of the Cabildo de La Palma Sergio Rodríguez has confirmed that its target to build 700 new homes on the island by around the end of 2026 remains, and that 50 of those completed in 2025 will be public housing units. Further plans have been published about the projects completed, underway and planned to meet these targets.
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Modular housing for volcano victims will be dismantled after use (El Time, 2025)
Puerto Naos businesses must reopen – Cabildo president Sergio Rodríguez has said that any businesses authorised to reopen in Puerto Naos should do, or else they may stop receiving aid. He says it is expected that the businesses will begin to generate progressive income, at the same time the aid is being phased out. Some businesses had previously been criticised for not reopening without good reason once they had authorisation to.
- Temporary modular homes will be dismantled – The wooden and container-style modular homes built for those affected by the volcano will be dismantled once their current residents find a more permanent solution.
- Tazacorte ‘Mar y Lava’ Tourism plan – Tazacorte has presented a new sustainable tourism framework ‘Mar y Lava’, which is supported by NextGeneration EU funds.
Aid
Sergio Rodríguez, on the reopening of Puerto Naos establishments: “If they’re authorized to open, they’re obligated to open.” (El Time, 2025)
- 60% income tax deduction debate – A political debate has opened up about whether or not to apply a 60% income tax reduction on La Palma again. The measure was voted to be implemented for 10 years in July 2022, but has so far not been implemented for 2025, but many parties are fighting for it to be applied retroactively until the start of 2025.
- €100 million from the state is still delayed – A united front of those affected by the volcano have demanded that the Spanish Government transfers the promised €100 million for reconstruction to the Canary Islands Government, and that the personal income tax deduction is restored.
- Aid beneficiaries will not be made public – The Canary Islands Government has approved a motion that those who have received aid related to the volcanic eruption will be kept private to protect their privacy. However, some parties suggested that citizens have a right to know where the aid has gone to.
- Less self-employed receiving aid – The number of self-employed workers still receiving unemployment benefits due to impacts from the 2021 eruption have fallen to 46 in January 2025, from their peak of 823 in June 2022. The remaining recipients either have businesses in Puerto Naos that are still yet to reopen, or farmers whose land has been affected by the lava flows.
- €3.5 million loan for volcano damage – The Spanish Governments Council of Ministers has authorised €7.5 million to address damages caused by various natural disasters, with €3.5 million allocated to those affected in La Palma.
Science
- Extensions requested for geothermal exploitation funds – The Cabildo is seeking an extension for deadlines on funds to develop geothermal projects on La Palma, partly financed by European Next Generation funds. The process of allocated funds has been delayed due regional processes for awarding mining grids.
- Volcanic, seismic and fire risk incorporated into island planning – As part of new amendments to the La Palma Island Development Plan, the Cabildo de La Palma now incorporates risk prevention in these plans, which will be implemented by the end of 2029. This will influence zoning and urban planning on the island based on existing and future risks.
- INVOLCAN volcanic monitoring agreement renewed – The agreement between INVOLCAN and the Cabildo de La Palma for monitoring volcanic activity on La Palma has been renewed.
- IGME and El Paso Council protect ‘technofossils’ – El Paso City Council and IGME have begun recording and documenting blocks of lava in the El Corazoncillo area which contain imprints from vehicle tyres that drove across them as they were cooling in November 2021. These are believed to be the first of these such imprints recorded, and it is hoped that they will be incorporated into museums in the future.
- Meeting of research teams in Fuencaliente – Fuencaliente has hosted a meeting of researchers from various institutions in Spain and Portugal investigating the 2021 eruption, to share research on aspects such as lava cooling and lava tubes, remobilisation of tephra by rain and the impacts of the eruption on groundwater.
- Important lava tubes close to the LP-211 – Octavio Fernández, a CSIC researcher and expert on lava flows, has highlighted his concerns about the remaining lava tubes close to the roads that are being reconstructed, both in terms of the sensitivity to not destroy scientifically important lava tubes, and also the difficulties such unstable areas of the lava flow could pose for road construction.
- Radon gas measurements in Puerto Naos – A team of researchers for the University of La Lagune have been measuring radon gas levels in Puerto Naos, as it is thought that the CO2 may act as a vehicle to bring radon gas out of the soil. Radon is dense so accumulated where CO2 may already accumulate, and indoors if it is concentrated long-term exposure can cause health issues. The deadline for the report on this is December 2025.
- 5 earthquakes recorded in Fuencaliente – A series of 5 earthquakes between 10-13 km depth and between magnitude 2.3 and 2.6 were recorded within 30 minutes in Fuencaliente. Series such as these have been rare in the last two years, but IGN emphasised that these currently seem like isolated events and may be related to a post-eruptive cooling process.
A CSIC speleologist is concerned about the execution of LP-211 due to the location of a volcanic tube. (El Time, 2025)
Other updates
- IGME-CSIC geotourism training course – IGME-CSIC in collaboration with El Paso City Council have organised a 75-hour training course on Geological Heritage and Geotourism, running from April 7th – May 29th, aimed at training tourism staff in field interpretation and disseminating geological processed associated with the Tajogaite eruption in 2021.
- Perspectives on the Lava Delta pipeline fine – The fine for the water pipeline illegally built across the lava deltas by the previous Cabildo following the eruption, has been increased from €1.3 million to €2 million, despite appeals from the cabildo. The previous government has been criticised for its arrogance to continue building the pipeline despite being warned it was illegal by local groups. Former president of La Palma Mariano Zapata has suggested the current Cabildo should appeal the decision. However, there are options to prevent the removal of the pipeline, which would need alternative solutions to be presented, such as burying the pipeline.
The race against time to save the Fajana pipeline. (El Time, 2025)
- Postal service restored in Puerto Naos – After negotiations, the postal service will resume deliveries to Puerto Naos, representing a step towards normality in the town.
- Psychological impacts of the eruption – An interview with the chair the Platform for People Affected by the 2021 Cumbre Vieja Volcano eruption Juan Fernando Pérez has illuminated the amount of psychological suffering from the eruption, with 400 people in the association alone (out of 700) suffering with symptoms of depression or requiring mental health assistance. It highlights the lack of services on La Palma for psychological help, especially given the impacts of the eruption.
- Volcano art project – The Manolo Blahnik School of Art in Santa Cruz de La Palma presented “Volcanic Nature”, a project developing sustainable clothing and jewellery.
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