Volcanic eruption on La Palma: Lava flow reaches the sea

On La Palma, the lava of the erupted volcano has reached the shore areas and flows into the Atlantic. The government in Madrid declared the Canary Island a disaster area. More than 6,000 people had to leave their homes.

The lava of the volcano Cumbre Vieja, which erupted on the Canary Island of La Palma, has flowed into the ocean. “The lava flow has reached the sea at Playa Nueva,” said the Canary Islands Volcanological Institute in the night on the online service Twitter.

Experts fear that contact of the lava with seawater could release harmful gases. Explosions of glowing lava rocks and boiling hot tidal waves are also possible. On September 19, the Cumbre Vieja erupted for the first time in 50 years and caused severe damage. Hundreds of houses have since been destroyed. More than 6000 people had to be brought to safety.

The volcanic island of La Palma, which belongs to Spain, was declared a disaster area on Tuesday. At the same time, the government in Madrid provided 10.5 million euros in emergency aid for those affected on the Canary Island, as reported by the state TV broadcaster RTVE. This was intended to finance 107 apartments and the most urgent expenses of the people whose houses were destroyed by the lava.

Air traffic with the island was still suspended. The only alternative was ferries to the larger neighboring island of Tenerife. However, long waiting times have been reported. The volcano in the Cumbre Vieja ridge in the south of the island off the west coast of Africa erupted on September 19 for the first time in 50 years. Even volcanologists couldn’t say how long he would stay active. It could take weeks or months.