La Palma: A Month On, Volcano On Spanish Island Still Erupting Red-Hot Lava, Ash

The volcanic eruption has destroyed almost 800 hectares of land, about 2,000 buildings and banana plantations. Over 6,000 people had to leave homes

One of the eruptive mouths of the Cumbre Vieja volcano on 16 October 2021, in La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain | Photo: Getty

New Delhi: It was on September 19 that the devastation started on the Spanish island of La Palma. The Cumbre Vieja volcano erupted and the streams of red-hot lava spewing from it started to turn into ashes whatever came its way. 

A month on, there is no end in sight to the volcanic eruption, even as almost 800 hectares of land, about 2,000 buildings and many banana plantations stand destroyed. Over 6,000 people had to leave the island that is home to about 83,000 inhabitants, media reports said.

La Palma forms part of the Canary Islands archipelago off north-western Africa.

According to the National Geographic Institute's volcano monitoring department, there is no way to predict how long the eruption would last.

"Historical records show eruptions lasting 24 to 84 days ... It would be logical to assume something within those bounds, but we cannot risk (predicting) anything," Carmen del Fresno from the department told Reuters.

At a gathering in Valencia on Sunday, Canary Islands President Angel Víctor Torres said, citing scientists: "There are no signs that an end of the eruption is imminent…”

Molten rock has covered 754 hectares 

Dozens of minor earthquakes happen on most days as the volcano produces a constant rumble and roar, and the ash from it has covered a wide area, AP reported. 

The ash plume is now said to be several kilometers high.

While the La Palma airport is open, flights are unable to land or take off on many days because of the ash.

The molten rock has covered 754 hectares of land, the latest satellite imagery showed, according to the AP report. 

Roads on the island have also been ruined.

"I'm tired, so tired ... but who are we to fight against nature?" Reuters quoted Culberta Cruz, a 56-year-old hospital kitchen worker, as saying.

She, along with her husband Tono Gonzalez, a banana grower, and their dog, have been living in a tiny caravan for a month now, the report said.

La Palma depends heavily on tourism and the banana plantations. The government has promised to help rebuild the damaged infrastructure by spending millions of euros.