13 Oct La Palma eruption update 13th October 2021: La Laguna at risk from lava flows

The lava flows to the north of the flow field that prompted the evacuation La Laguna on the 12th continue to advance, but in an uneven fashion. The furthest north branch of these flows, which was the one of main concern, is losing power and is advancing only slowly. However, the southern of these flows is currently the most active stream, and advances at approximately 50 m per hour. The current affected area of the lava flows is 640 hectares, 28 more than the previous day, and the maximum width of the lava flow field is 1,770 m. However, it was also stressed by PEVOLCA that the eruption is currently affecting only 8% of the island including areas affected by significant ashfall, and that the area covered by lava flows is still <1% of the land area of the island. Regarding eruptive activity, Strombolian activity is still seen from multiple vents within the main cone, and a reactivation of a more effusive vent on the SE flank of the main cone has been confirmed. Pulses of phreatomagmatic activity can also be seen.

12 Oct La Palma eruption update 12th october 2021: More evacuations ordered

The confinement of several areas on the morning of the 11th due to the cement factory fire was lifted in the morning as the lava front has surpassed the sight and the air quality was assessed to be safe. However, further permanent evacuations of people were ordered in the morning by PEVOLCA, affecting 700-800 people in and around the settlement of La Laguna, due to the advancing lava flows to the north that affected the Callejón de la Gata industrial estate. There are two active lava flows, one that travels parallel and northwest of the original flow, and the second which prompted the new evacuation as moves very quickly. The original flows to the south, including the lava delta, remain inactive for now. Results from preliminary chemical and petrographic analyses of the lava flows and pyroclasts have been published for the first time, showing an evolution of the magma throughout the eruption from a more differentiated to a more primitive composition in the baseite-tephrite series. This is consistent with known historical eruptions on La Palma.

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.