Rain warnings have been issued for La Palma in the coming days, which PEVOLCA has warned could remobilise unconsolidated ash deposits which may form local mass movements and present a hazard to driving, especially in steep areas. Meanwhile, the dispersion of the ash and gas plume continues to be to the E/NE and are unfavourable to the operations of the airport. The new lava delta to the north now occupies 5 hectares and already extends a maximum of 350 m from the cliffs. Lava flows 1, 2 and 9, which feed the southern lava delta, continue to be active as well. Seismicity decreased relative to the last few days, with a decrease seen especially in deep earthquakes. 46 events were recorded, with only a slightly lower proportion of intermediate (10-15 km depth) events to deep (30-45 km depth) events, and the day’s largest earthquake was a mbLg 3.4 event at 13 km depth.

Volcanic tremor remains low with some occasional fluctuation, whilst deformation now remains fairly stable across the whole network. SO2 emissions were reported to be estimated at a high level, between 1,000-29,999 tons per day, reflecting a change in the reporting of this parameter, whilst the ash and gas plume was measured at 4,300 m. As a general trend however, satellite measurements imply current SO2 emissions are lower than the start of the eruption. SO2 levels were between good and reasonably good in all stations in most of the day, but multiple exceedances of the hourly limit value (250 μg/m³) in the early hours at El Paso and Los Llanos led to the exceedance of the daily limit value (125 μg/m³) in Los Llanos. With respect to PM10 levels, the daily limit value (50 μg/m³) was exceeded in Los Llanos, although PM10 values in the east of the island have improved, and all other stations were at good or reasonably good levels.

A group of IGN volcanologists conduct measurements and maintenance tasks to equipment close to the main cone on the 24th. Image credit: IGN Spain, Arturo Rodríguez

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