The area of La Palma continues to increase: in the last 24 hours the island has grown by almost four hectares. The extension of the volcanic island is greater due to the arrival of the lava to the sea through the Los Guirres beach. These magma contributions are overlapping with the fajana originated in the first weeks of the eruption and are increasing it on its southern side. “The expansion of the second lava delta continues, mainly in a direction perpendicular to the coastline, overlapping with the first,” explained María José Blanco, director of the National Geographic Institute in the Canary Islands (IGN), at a press conference this Friday.
The arrival of this lava flow into the sea is causing “episodes of high turbidity in the water column at distances of up to one kilometer from the lava front”, which anticipates that, again, dead fish could appear in that area of the coast. “Currently, several emission centers are still active with variable activity as the configuration of the eruptive zone changes. The appearance of new emission centers around the main cone is not ruled out ”, details this Friday’s report from the Canary Islands Volcanic Emergency Plan (Pevolca).
That the lava from the volcano is heading mainly to the fajana and Los Guirres beach (next to the lava delta) is good news. “This is positive because most of the energy is finding its natural outlet towards the sea”, details the Pevolca. If the lava continues to take this direction it is more complicated than other areas of the wash, in front of which there are homes and crops threatened, move forward.
The most dangerous wash at this time is that of Las Hoyas, an area of banana plantations with scattered houses. It is not moving, but it is receiving contributions of lava that could push it towards the sea or in a southerly direction. “There is a probability, but I don’t have a magic ball to say if it will come. The desirable thing is that, if there is a feeding on this wash, it reaches the sea as soon as possible. It is the best way to avoid flare that causes further property damage. The best thing that could happen to us is that it reaches the sea ”, said this Friday the technical director of Pevolca, Miguel Ángel Morcuende.
The area devastated by lava already amounts to 1,009.43 hectares. The lava has swallowed almost 1,200 houses.
On the other hand, seismicity has fallen in recent hours, after the increase in tremors experienced in the previous days. Blanco explained that last Wednesday more than 40 earthquakes were recorded at depths greater than 20 kilometers, the highest number since the eruption began, but on Thursday fewer than 25 were reported and this Friday, until 2:00 p.m., only seven.
Blanco has also detailed that, although the seismicity is pointing downwards in the last hours, this trend has to be assessed in the long term. “It is possible that there will be more felt earthquakes,” adds the Pevolca report.
Regarding air quality, the scenario of the last few days is maintained: it is good in most of the island, except in Los Llanos de Aridane. It is classified as “unfavorable” in this municipality, despite the fact that it has improved according to the records of last night and this Friday morning. “Due to the concentration of particles in Los Llanos de Aridane, it is recommended to stay indoors and wear an FFP2 mask when going outside, especially if you have a weak immune system,” adds the team of experts in their report.
Direct aid
The Cabildo de La Palma has announced that this Friday morning has begun to transfer amounts of between 2,000 and 3,000 euros to those affected by the volcano. This money comes from the more than seven million euros donated by individuals and companies in the bank account set up by the Cabildo. “If the family unit or economic coexistence registered in the Single Registry of people affected by the volcanic eruption consists of one person, an amount of 2,000 euros will be paid. If it is made up of two or three people, 2,500 euros will be paid, while if the family unit is made up of more than three people, 3,000 euros will be paid ”, explained in a press release the councilor for Social Action of the Cabildo, Nieves Hernandez.
Housing solutions are expanding further. At the moment, only 18 flats have been delivered among more than 7,000 evacuees, among which more than 2,000 have lost their homes. On the other hand, the hotels contracted by the Administration to accommodate evacuees accommodate 471 people, most of them in the Princess hotel in Fuencaliente.
#Palma #volcano #continues #gain #ground #sea #lava #fajana #grow #hectares