New Lava Streams Flow After Volcano’s Cone Collapses at La Palma, Evacuations Underway
It has been almost a month since the active volcano on the Cumbre Vieja mountain range erupted, which is still spewing lava and molten rock all across the island of La Palma
The volcano on Spain’s La Palma Island is still erupting new lava streams with no signs of stopping. Satellites have captured shocking images of the intensifying volcanic eruption on the island as new streams of lava spew out over the weekend, destroying over 1,100 buildings.
Authorities in La Palma have ordered 2,500 people into lockdown as a protective measure from toxic gases caused by volcanic fumes. Residents of El Paso and Los Llanos de Aridane were instructed by local emergency services to close their windows, curtains and air conditioning devices.
The revitalized volcanic eruption contains boulders the size of a house rolling out of the volcano’s crater, where part of its cone collapsed. Reportedly, locals have felt dozens of earth tremors up to 3.8 magnitude since October 10.
The European Earth-observing satellite Sentinel-2 caught a glimpse of the new lava streams coming out of the fiery volcano, spewing in new directions. It formed quickly north of the original lava stream and began flowing a path downhill toward the coast and threatening settlements.
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station captured this image of the La Palma volcanic eruption in early October 2021 | Image: NASA
Apparently, at least 1,186 buildings have so far been destroyed by the scorching lava, which has spread nearly 2 square miles on the island. According to the European Space Agency (ESA), the neighborhood of Todoque, part of the Los Llanos de Aridane municipality in the southwest corner of the island.
The sulfur dioxide plumes from the volcano, which had crossed the Atlantic Ocean and reached the Caribbean last week. Currently, most of the volcanic emissions are moving eastward over Northern Africa.
Experts are worried that the first eruption of Cumbre Vieja in 50 years is nowhere near ceasing and may continue for months.
Via: Space
