As the eruption enters its third day, no casualties or personal injuries from the eruption continue to be reported. However, the first provisional damage assessment has been published which estimates that 185 buildings have been affected, 63 of which are homes according to the Land Registry. The lava flow now has two fronts; a northern front which is closer to Todoque, and a southern front which is largely stopped for the moment. The advance of the active flow front is slowing relative to previous days, however. The eruption continues to show a strombolian mechanism along the NW-SE fissure from four main vents. An episode of greater explosivity was observed from 7pm local time onwards, which peaked at 9pm. The gas plume continues to reach about 3000m according to the Tolouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC), and the SO2 flux is estimated at between 6,140-11,500 tons per day.

Concerning geophysical parameters, the volcanic tremor has seen a decrease in amplitude attributed to the eruption centring around only four vents, compared to 7 or more in the first hours of the eruption. The rate of inflation of the ground close to the eruption has also decreased, and InSAR measurements show an average cumulative maximum deformation of 28cm since the seismic swarm began. Monitoring priorities include collecting ash and lava sampling, modelling the speed and direction of advance of the lava flows, and monitoring the amount and composition of gases emitted by the volcano.

A team of volcanologists inspect the front of the active lava flow near Todoque. Image credit: INVOLCAN

Sources: Government of the Canary Islands, PEVOLCA, Involcan, IGN, DSN, Cabildo La Palma, 112 Canarias, Tolouse VAAC