Monday, October 11, 2021

LaPalma Update: Increased Seismic And Volcanic Activity

La Palma update: Lava destroys cement factory prompting more lockdowns – Increased seismic and volcanic activity – More evacuations
Strange Sounds



The new volcano that began erupting on September 19 on La Palma, in Spain’s Canary Islands, showed its destructive power once again over the weekend.

On Saturday, parts of the northern face of the volcano’s cone collapsed, leading the lava to overflow in different directions.

This collapse has led to a “notable rise” in the amount of lava flowing out of the volcano, and mobilized loose blocks of molten rock tens of cubic meters in size.

However, this new collapse did not come as a surprise. They are seen as reconfiguration processes are perfectly normal with Strombolian eruptions like the one on La Palma. As such, it is likely that the cone will see further collapses.

Blocks of molten lava as large as three-story buildings rolled down a hillside on the Spanish island of La Palma while a series of tremors shook the ground on Sunday three weeks after the volcanic eruption.

The blocks of red-hot magma flowed down the side of the Cumbre Vieja volcano were the size of three-story buildings, the Spanish Institute of Geology and Mining said on Sunday.

The breakdown of the northern face of the cone created three new lava flows. The most worrying of the three has advanced towards the industrial area of El Callejón de la Gata in the town of Los Llanos de Aridane.


The Volcanology Institute of the Canary Islands (Involcan) reported on Sunday that the lava destroyed the few remaining buildings still standing north of the town’s Todoque neighborhood, which was nearly completely swallowed up by the magma flow between September 30 and October 1.

Meanwhile, families are still evacuating their homes three weeks after the start of the eruption.

The collapse of the northern face of the volcano led to a tense 24 hours, not only because lava from the crater was flowing in different directions, but also because the volcano became more explosive.

Morcuende explained on Sunday that the new lava flows have broken into two branches, both north of the main flow of molten rock.


  • One is currently traveling further north and reached Callejón de la Gata on Sunday. It is moving at a slow speed of around five meters per hour. Authorities are closely watching its advance to see whether action needs to be taken to protect the local population.
  • The second branch has already crossed the LP-213 road and is traveling north to south between Todoque and Puerto Naos in the town of Tazacorte. This branch is expected to advance parallel to the main flow and make its way to the sea by going north of Todoque mountain.

According to Morcuende, the lava has so far affected 600 hectares, an area that grew by 10% overnight. This includes 132 hectares for agriculture, which is one of the island’s main economic drivers.

At its widest point, the river of molten rock stretches 1,520 meters, up from 1,250 meters.






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