The La Palma volcano has settled into a phase in which emits more lava and less ash, with “specific overflows of magma in the emitting center, in any case short-haul”, which has caused the most active casting to continue advancing, although no more population evacuations are foreseen, reports from 112 Canaries.
This greater contribution of magma, which last morning reached speeds of up to 250 meters per hour, has been reflected in the increase of the affected area: 732 hectares, 52 more than in the last 24 hours, according to the measurement of the Copernicus satellite system carried out this Friday at noon.
It has also increased the number of buildings destroyed, up to 1,817, 269 more than in the previous global count, in addition to other 92 at risk or partially damaged, which can be disabled in days. The washes have buried 56.4 kilometers of roads and partially affected another 3 kilometers.
Thermographic image showing the anomaly generated by the new eruptive vent, yet to be confirmed if it’s a lava flow or pyroclastic fall pic.twitter.com/tY1nIZW7Ks
– INVOLCAN (@involcan) October 15, 2021
A new eruption point
For a few hours a new eruptive point has emerged It has arisen in the Cumbre Vieja volcano within the area of the main cone, “which expels gases and ash but does not emit lava at the moment,” according to sources from Pevolca. Precisely, those responsible for the Volcanic Emergency Plan of the Canary Islands are currently trying to collect all the data on this new opening.
They assure that It is a normal process within this type of eruption and it has already happened before in the almost four weeks that this volcano has been active.. It is located to the southeast of the main cone and expels ash and pyroclasts (fragments of volcanic material of different sizes).
Large blocks being washed away by the north wash
The Scientific Committee spokesperson and director of IGN in the Canary Islands, María José Blanco, pointed out that large blocks that are washed away by the north wash and pointed out that at the outlet of the emission center the flow is concentrated in a stepped lava channel which causes clogging and occasional overflows that form ephemeral streams, short-haul, and perpendicular to the current lava channel.
The streams that flowed towards the sea and that had stopped days ago, now have a contribution of material and it is not ruled out that they may have another evolution in the short term, the expert explained.
Regarding the data on deformation of the terrain, the Plan’s technical director commented that “there has been a slight reversal of the deformation observed yesterday.” In this sense, Blanco revealed that “the horizontal deformation registered in the station closest to the eruptive center has partially reversed.” Their behavior and observable phenomena in the area will continue to be studied until more information is available. The rest of the stations, he said, do not show a significant deformation “, they affirm from the PEVOLCA.
Be careful with air quality
The meteorological conditions in the coming days will be unfavorable for air quality, due to the thermal inversion and entry of a Saharan air mass, they say from the 112 Canary Islands.
The new 4.5 magnitude earthquake
Regarding seismicity, Blanco pointed out that earthquakes have increased in frequency and magnitude, but they occur at intermediate and deep depths and surface seismicity is almost non-existent. However, Blanco said that earthquakes will continue to occur and will be felt by the population. For an hour, There have been earthquakes in Breña Baja, Fuencaliente, and Villa de Mazo.