07 Oct La Palma eruption update 7th october 2021: Earthquake activity intensifies

A relatively stable period in the eruption continues, both in respect to the paths taken by the lava flows and the surface eruptive activity. Between the 5th and 6th, the area affected by the lava flow only increased by 9 hectares, now totalling 431.2 hectares, and the maximum width of the flow field remains the same at 1,250 m. However, 350 m from the coast, a small lava breakout has occurred, creating a new flow that has cascaded down cliffs north of the current lava delta onto an area of low topography that is part of the lava delta formed in the 1949 eruption, although it has not yet reached the sea. Throughout the morning earthquake activity has intensified although continues to be concentrated at 10-15 km depth in the area of the precursory swarm. 99 earthquakes were recorded, the largest being 4.3 mbLg which was felt across the island. PEVOLCA commented that a similar intensification in seismic activity was seen in the 2011 El Hierro eruption after the eruption had begun.

06 Oct La Palma eruption update 6th october 2021: The eruption remains relatively stable

A relatively stable period in the eruption continues, both in respect to the paths taken by the lava flows and the surface eruptive activity. The lava flows continue to feed the lava delta via lava tubes, and the eruption continues to show a strombolian behaviour from multiple active vents in the main cone that vary in intensity, as well as more effusive activity from two vents on the flanks of the main cone. There was a small breakout lava flow flowing towards the north of Todoque mountain, although for now these flows have become inactive. For the first time since the eruption began, damage statistics for agriculture have been published; 93.4 hectares have been affected by the lava flows so far, including 35.6 hectares of bananas and 32.9 hectares of vineyards.

05 Oct La Palma eruption update 5th october 2021: 420 hectares now covered by lava flows

The two effusive vents that opened a few hundred metres NW of the main cone on the 1st October no longer show any activity, according to PEVOLCA. However, the Strombolian vents in the main cone and those on the flanks of the main cone are still active. Activity in the fumarole field on the SE flank has decreased, although gas emission and high soil temperatures have been observed 100 m NW of the newly inactive vents. It is noted that no eruptive parameters indicate the eruption could be near its end. The active lava flows predominantly travel from the main cone to the lava delta, which is now 36 hectares in size, via lava tubes. The lava flows travelling on top of the existing lava flows also remain well contained and as such there is currently limited widening of the area affected by the flows. Latest assessments indicate 420.12 hectares are covered by lava flows, with the lava flow field being a maximum of 1,250 m wide. Assessments of the marine environment have indicated that physio-chemical parameters of the sea water have only been affected between 0-250 m depth, within 500 m of the front of the lava delta.

04 Oct La Palma eruption update 4th october 2021: Lava largely follows existing channels

In the first official assessment of the classification of the eruption based on its size, the authorities have announced that the eruption is a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) 2 eruption. This classification is based solely on the cumulative amount of material emitted by the volcano so far, and as such the VEI may increase as the eruption continues for longer. Several active strombolian vents are still observed in the main cone, as well as two vents on the NW sector of the flank of the main cone, one of which was the site of the partial collapse observed on the evening of the 3rd. The two effusive vents further away from the main vent that opened on the 1st October show less activity than previous days. The fumarole field on the flanks of the main cone is still observed, although is relatively weakened. The active lava flows largely continue to cover ground covered by earlier flows aside from breakouts further away from the cone, and the presence of lava tubes have also been confirmed which allows the transport of more fluid lava. The affected area has increased to 413 hectares, and the maximum width of the flow field is now 1,250 m.

03 Oct La Palma eruption update 3rd october 2021: The lava flow field is up to 1 km wide

The explosivity of the eruption has increased, with activity being more concentrated in the strombolian vents in the main cone than the vents on the flanks of the main cone. The fumarolic field on the NW flank remains active, and elsewhere, activity from the two effusive vents away from the main cone feeding the newest lava flow has decreased. Recently, the main cone has undergone reconfiguration as a result of eruptive processes; the current cone is wider, lower and closed than the one seen in previous days. A partial collapse of the cone at around 7:00 pm local time produced an overspill of very fluid lava from the cone, which also included some very large blocks created by the collapse. The latest damage assessments indicate 400 hectares have been affected by lava, which is up to 1 km wide. According to Copernicus EMS, 1,074 buildings have been affected, with 946 of them destroyed, along with 30.7 km of roads. The lava delta now covers an area of 29.7 hectares.

02 Oct La Palma eruption update 2nd october 2021: Number of earthquakes increases

Based upon improved meteorological conditions and air quality levels, the confinements of parts of El Paso and Los Llanos de Aridane on the evening of the 1st October have been lifted, as well as the confinement of Tazacorte ordered six days ago. The eruption continues to show a strombolian mechanism, with pulses of various intensity, and both effusive and more explosive vents. A small ash and gas emission center opened on the NW flank of the main cone after 9:00 am The two effusive events that opened up on the 1st October away from the main cone continue to feed a lava flow that now skirts the northern edge of the previous flows, although it is not certain whether it will run laterally or completely join these older flows. The lava delta continues to grow and is now up to 35 m thick and reaches 540 m from the coastline. The last irrigation connection in the area, in El Remo, has been destroyed by the lava flows, and authorities are working on plans to install portable desalinization plants to resupply the area with water for crop irrigation.

01 Oct La Palma eruption update, 1st october 2021: Effusive vents open north of the main cone

At 2:30 am local time, two new effusive vents 15 m apart opened approximately 600 m NW of the base of the main cone. These have formed a single fluid lava flow, which is travelling parallel to the existing flows and is expected to join them given the slope of the local topography. The three vents inside the main crater and the effusive vent on the NE sector of the main cone also remain active, as does the recent fumarole field on the NW flank. The lava delta continues to grow, and is now measured at 475 m long, reaching 30 m depth and covering 27.7 Ha. According to the latest damage assessments by Copernicus EMS, 1,005 buildings have been affected so far, and 27.7 km of roads have been damaged. Regarding air quality, the SO2 concentrations in Tazacorte, Los Llanos and El Paso reduced throughout the day to low levels, although PM10 concentrations were high in all stations across the island, although this was partially due to the intrusion of Saharan dust in the current weather system. Based on this and also the temperature inversion preventing the dispersion of gases from the combustion of fertilizers and greenhouse plastics, a confinement was ordered for some areas of El Paso and Los Llanos de Aridane in the evening,

30 Sep La Palma eruption update 30th september 2021: Lava flows show some stability

The lava delta continues to be fed by the active lava flows, which show some stability in that they are largely confined to within previous lava flows. However, there are also localised breakouts onto previously unaffected land. The lava delta has reached a thickness of 24 m and is now beginning to spread laterally. Surface activity at the main cone continues to show a mixed mechanism with strombolian activity from multiple vents in the main cone, and more effusive Hawaiian activity from a vent at the base of the NW sector on the main cone, with occasional phreatomagmatic pulses too. Throughout the morning of the 30th, an extensive fumarole field developed on the NE flank of the main cone. The continued presence of a thermal inversion is hampering the dispersal of volcanic gases and ash, leading to a decrease in air quality in the Aridane Valley. SO2 concentrations in Tazacorte peaked at ‘very high’ levels (>500 μg/m3) at 8:00 am local time and increases in SO2 concentrations have also been observed in Los Llanos de Aridane, along with reports of a ‘rotten egg’ smell, although these values do not currently represent a health hazard.

29 Sep La Palma eruption update 29th september 2021: ‘Lava delta’ creating new land

The active lava flow continues cascade down the cliffs of Playa de Los Guirres to the sea, where a lava delta (also called by the Canarianism “fajana”) is being created. The contact of the lava and seawater are creating gases of vapour, although currently due to the prevailing winds these have not spread laterally and are concentrated in a small area around the lava delta. Nonetheless, the confinement order remains in place for neighbourhoods in Tazacorte for the moment. The rest of the lava flows remain practically inactive, and new damage estimates 476 hectares have been covered by the lava flows, and 744 buildings have been damaged or destroyed according to the Copernicus Satellite. Regarding surface activity, strombolian activity continues with pulses of increased and decreased intensity, as well as an effusive focus from the vent on the NW sector of the main cone. Ash concentrations are higher than previous days in the Aridane Valley, so the population are reminded to wear FFP2 or better facemasks when outside and take extra caution. Irrigators and evacuated residents outside the exclusion zone have been allowed in to tend to their crops and remove their belongings, and have been accompanied by UME and the Civil Guard who can monitor gas concentrations in real time.

28 Sep La Palma eruption update 28th September 2021: Lava reaches the sea at 11pm local time

The lava flow began the day approximately 1000 m from the coast, although it advanced quickly throughout the day due to the large volume of fluid lava being emitted from the effusive vent on the northwest sector of the cone. The lava flow crossed to the south of Todoque mountain and reached the sea at 11:00 pm local time after cascading down the cliffs at Playa de Los Guirres. Due to the clouds of vapour being produced by the contact of the lava with the sea, which could contain high concentrations of gases such as hydrogen chloride (HCl), the confinement order in Tazacorte remains in place. Throughout the day, there were also issues with suspended particles in the air, both directly from the volcano and from the burning of plastic and other noxious materials in greenhouses and agricultural buildings by the lava flows. This problem was exacerbated by a low temperature inversion at 600 m preventing the dispersal of these particles in the evening. This led to the exceedance of the PM10 particle air quality threshold level (50 μg/m3) in Los Llanos de Aridane.