A new lava flow erupted this Saturday from the volcano on the Spanish island of La Palma and reignited fear at the threat that the damage will be even greater than the current one, with more than a thousand buildings that have been seriously affected.
The partial collapse of the volcanic cone during the night gave birth to a new lava flow that began to follow a similar path up the Cumbre Vieja ridge towards the western coast of the island, to the sea.
Authorities said the new lava river you are within the area that was evacuated in haste after the Sept. 19 eruption, when 6,000 residents were forced to flee their homes and farms.
A river of lava in the volcano of the island La Palma, in Spain. Photo: AFP
Police allowed residents whose homes might now be in danger to make trips to salvage what they could. The trucks entered the exclusion zone empty and returned with mattresses, furniture and other belongings.
Rescue official Miguel Ángel Morcuende said experts were closely watching the delta of new rock that was forming off the island’s coast since the main lava river reached the sea last week. He said that some parts could collapse, causing explosions and big waves, but that this would not represent a danger because the immediate area has already been evacuated.
Despite the new collapse, La Palma airport started operating again after being closed for several days due to volcanic ash.
La Palma, home to some 85,000 people, is part of the Canary Islands of Spain, a volcanic archipelago northwest off the coast of Africa.
Damages so far
Until now, the Cumbre Vieja volcano razed nearly a thousand houses and damaged about 150 more, to a greater or lesser extent, according to the survey of the European Copernicus satellite. All the island’s inhabitants, however, feel threatened.
The eruption of the volcano matures but does not lose explosiveness. Since the lava reached the sea, the air quality has worsened and more and more towns could be evacuated.
According to the Volcanological Institute of the Canary Islands, the eruption it could last two more months.
With information from agencies.
.