New lava vents burst open in La Palma volcano

On Sep 27, 2021

SPAIN: Huge bursts of lava were seen shooting into the air on the Spanish island of La Palma as new vents opened in the Cumbre Vieja volcano. The intense lava flows that started last Sunday have forced thousands to evacuate, and on Saturday, an accumulation of ash forced the small island’s airport to close.

Photos posted by the Volcanological Institute of the Canary Islands on Saturday show thick, dark smoke plummeting out of the volcano. The institute, known as INVOLCAN, said that an emission vent had opened west of the initial one. However, the amplitude of the volcanic tremor had “decreased notably” as of Saturday night local time, the institute said.

The latest eruptions forced the La Palma airport to close due to an accumulation of ash, Spanish airport operator Aena tweeted. As the volcano continues to erupt, those who live on the island are susceptible to earthquakes, lava flows, toxic gases, volcanic ash and acid rain. Of major concern to people on the island is the health effects and damage caused by the volcano.

Since Cumbre Vieja started erupting an estimated 6,000 people have been evacuated from the island, the government of the Canary Islands said in a statement on Friday. Roughly 160 people in the nearby areas of Tajuya, Tacande de Abajo and Tacande de Arriba, located roughly 10 miles from the volcano, also evacuated.

The damage caused by the eruption could last up to 84 days, researchers from the Volcanology Institute said.

– CBS NEWS