On Sunday afternoon, a volcano on the Spanish Canary Islands’ La Palma Island began erupting, which resulted in the evacuation of 5,000 to 10,000 residents.
Regional authorities reported that evacuations had begun in the aftermath of the Cumbre Viejo volcano eruption, which occurred around 3:12 p.m. local time. The eruption occurred after a week of approximately 20,000 earthquakes on La Palma, the second youngest of the Canary Islands.
A quake of roughly 4 on the Richter Scale signaled the commencement of the eruption, with TV footage showing lava, smoke, and ash erupting from five cracks on the slope, and by 10 p.m., lava was erupting from seven separate apertures.
Although no fatalities have been reported, the lava flow that is progressing towards the sea on the island’s southwest coast has damaged several buildings as well as woodland and grassland.
Authorities began evacuating an estimated 5,000 people from the towns of El Paso, Tazacorte, and Los Llanos de Aridane on Sunday evening, in accordance with measures outlined in the Canary Island Volcano Emergency Plan.
Around 40 people with limited mobility had previously been evacuated, and farm animals had also been relocated, while schools in the region will be closed on Monday, and the lava flow has cut the AP 212 road and affected four others, which have been blocked to traffic.
Meanwhile, inhabitants have been warned to stay indoors, close doors and windows, and exercise caution when washing fruits and vegetables in order to prevent being harmed by volcanic ash. Twelve units from the Tenerife fire department have ferried to the island to assist, while the Canary Islands administration has requested assistance from the Spanish Military Emergency Unit (UME). After canceling a scheduled trip to the United States to attend the United Nations General Assembly, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez arrived on the island at 9 p.m.
La Palma has a land area of somewhat more than 700 square kilometers and a population of nearly 85,000 people. Since records began, it has had seven recorded eruptions. The most recent two eruptions occurred in 1949 and 1971, with the latter lasting 10 days.
Experts expect that the latest explosion will last several days, but might last weeks.
Source: Xinhua News Agency