Due to the increased ashfall in the north and west of the island with the increased ash emission, which was especially bad in Los Llanos de Aridane, new recommendations were brought in for the town. These are separate from the current lighter recommendations also in place in other ash-affected towns El Paso, Tazacorte, Tijarafe and Puntagorda, and advise the residents to reduce outdoor activities wherever possible, and wear FFP2 masks if they do have to go outside. In the morning, a high rate of lava emission continued from the vent on the NW flank of the main cone, causing over overflows of existing lava tubes and channels. New ground to the south of the lava flow field is being affected by the flows, with the front of this flow just to the west of Cogote Mountain. The number of earthquakes increased relative to the previous day, with 186 events were recorded mostly at intermediate depths (10-15 km), although again the day’s most powerful earthquake was deeper, a 4.6 mbLg earthquake at 36 km.

Deformation remains stable in the proximal GPS stations, whilst a slight regional deflation of deep origin continues to be recorded in distal stations. SO2 emissions were increased and were measured at 22,000 tons per day, although this is underestimated relative to satellite measurements, whilst the ash and gas plume reached 3000 m. The tremor remains at intermediate levels, although pulses of intensification are seen. Air quality with respect to SO2 reached very unfavourable and then extremely unfavourable levels in the early hours (12am-5am local time), exceeding the alert threshold (500 μg/m³) with a peak of 858 μg/m³, although these values quickly increased after 8am to reasonably good levels. The rest of the stations registered reasonably good to good SO2 levels. PM10 levels were also good-reasonably good at the stations on the east of the islands, although the daily threshold (50 μg/m³) was exceeded again in Los Llanos de Aridane, at an average of 188 μg/m³.

(Above) A video of the eruption on the 1st taken from the viewpoint to the east of the volcano on the LP-3 road. Heavy ashfall can be seen towards the end of the video. Video credit: INVOLCAN

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