A number of new volcanic vents have opened up on the Spanish island of La Palma, releasing new lava that’s rushing down a ridge and threatening to widen the damages on evacuated land, roads and houses, authorities stated Sunday.
The molten rock popping out from the principle new vent was very fluid and was advancing at a velocity of six meters (20 toes) per minute in the direction of areas unspoiled till now, stated Maria Jose Blanco, a spokeswoman for Spain’s Nationwide Geographic Institute.
The eruption on the island, which lies on the western finish of the Canary Islands archipelago within the Atlantic Ocean, started on Sept. 19.
Learn extra:
Past the lava: The place are volcanoes erupting and the way lengthy can they final?
Within the 10 weeks since then, at the least 11 totally different lava flows have been recognized by scientists, overlaying at the least 1,100 hectares (2,700 acres) of land, together with 1000’s of properties, roads, energy strains and irrigation pipes for the island’s economically vital banana plantations.
One of many rivers of lava final week destroyed an area cemetery, reburying the stays of over 3,000 folks.
Regardless of the damages, no accidents or deaths have been immediately linked to the eruption.
Consultants stated at the least 80 quakes had been recorded in a single day, with essentially the most highly effective reaching a magnitude of three.6. A few of them could possibly be felt by residents.
Regardless of the unabating volcanic exercise on the island, flights returned to La Palma this weekend, following every week of cancellations by airways because of the quantity of volcanic ash blowing within the airport’s course. Tourism is an enormous trade for all the Canary Islands, a favourite heat climate trip website for Europeans.
© 2021 The Canadian Press
