11 Oct La Palma eruption update 11th october 2021: Smoke from burning buildings forces confinements

A confinement of several population centres in Los Llanos de Aridane and El Paso totalling 3,500 people was ordered in the morning, due to the release of toxic gases from a large fire in a cement factory in the Callejón de la Gata industrial park, ignited by the northern active lava flow. There are currently three active lava streams: the original one feeding the lava delta, one to the south of the lava delta on the delta from the 1949 eruption, and the stream to the north which consists of two branches. The stream to the north currently has the greatest supply of lava, and has one branch affecting the industrial park, whilst the other branch is covering new ground in the direction of Todoque Mountain. To the north of Todoque mountain, the original stream is 300 m away from the coast and could form a second lava delta in the coming days if the supply of lava continues.

10 Oct La Palma eruption update 10th october 2021: New land to the north of affected by lava flows

The lava flows to the north of the lava flow field have been expanded as a result of the increased effusive activity caused by the rupture of the cone, including a lava flow that is covering new ground and is heading towards the part of Todoque not previously affected by the main lava flows. There are two branches of this flow, one to the south that has joined the previous flow, and one to the north which is travelling through the industrial estate and cement factory west of the town of La Laguna. At 2:30 pm local time, there was another partial collapse of the crater wall, releasing a large volume of lava as well as large blocks of the crater which were transported away by the lava flows. Currently, the lava exceeds 526 hectares, and the maximum width has also increased to 1,520 metres. The latest figures on destruction from Copernicus indicate 1,281 buildings affected, with 1,186 of those destroyed.

09 Oct La Palma eruption update 9th october 2021: Partial cone collapse creates two new lava streams

In the night between the 8th-9th, a partial collapse of the wall of the main cone caused a significant outpouring of lava as well as large blocks involved in the collapse. The outpouring created two new fluid lava streams, one travelling more to the north of the flow field and one further to the south, but both decreased in strength during the morning. The more southern flow especially is being monitored as it is contributing to the filling of a pronounced gully that, if completely filled, a breakout onto previously unaffected land could occur. It was commented that the partial collapse and subsequent change in morphology of the cone is a natural and repeated part of the eruptive process. Elsewhere, the new flow near the coast has still yet to reach the sea, and the lava delta is thought to have reached its maximum distance away from the cliffs, because it was reached the edge of the wave-cut platform. It continues to grow laterally along the coastline and has reached an area of 32 hectares.

08 Oct La Palma eruption update 8th october 2021: Airport operations affected by ash

The breakout lava flow that emerged on the 7th near the coast has covered over 40 hectares of new land, mostly destroying banana plantations, so the total affected area is now 471 hectares. The eruptive activity remains stable, with at least 3 strombolian vents in the main cone and now only a single vent on the flanks of the main cone, on the northern sector. The weather conditions remained unfavourable from an air quality perspective and also for ash deposition. Both La Palma airport and Tenerife North airport had operations affected by the accumulation of ash throughout the day, and it is not ruled out that La Gomera and Tenerife south airport could also be affected by ashfall. From tomorrow, however, meteorological conditions should allow being favourable for air quality and ash dispersion. A peak in SO2 concentrations was recorded in El Paso and Los Llanos between 6:00 and 8:00 am local time, although the hourly thresholds were not exceeded in either of the stations throughout the day. The daily threshold for PM10 concentrations was slightly exceeded in Los Llanos, but stayed below the threshold in all other stations.

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.