LA PALMA: Two weeks since eruption and still more earthquakes this morning

Two weeks after the eruption first started on Sunday 19^th September, seismic activity is still present on La Palma with eight tremors recorded this morning in the municipalities of El Paso, Tazacorte and Fuencaliente. Three of these tremors measured more than three degrees on the Richter scale at depths ranging between 11 and 14 kilometres, according to data from the National Geographic Institute (IGN).

The strongest tremor measured was a 3.5-degree earthquake at 4.16am this morning in the northwest of the municipality of Fuencaliente at a depth of 14kms, followed by another of 3.2 degrees at 5.27am in the same area and at the same depth, and a third of 3.1 also in the same area at 6.52am, at a shallower depth of 11 kilometres.

The Primi Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, is travelling to La Palma again today to see the effects caused by the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano first hand.

After meeting with the Pevolca Committee he will hold a press conference at around midday with the president of the Canary Islands, Ángel Víctor Torres, at the Salazar Palace to give an update on the current situation of the eruption and aid for the island agreed in Madrid.

Yesterday afternoon, the General Directorate of Security and Emergencies ordered the lifting of confinement in Tazacorte, El Paso and Los Llanos de Aridane, due to an improvement in the measurements of air quality in the area.

The technical director of Pevolca, Miguel Ángel Morcuende, explained that the island is suffering from the entry of air from Africa that has caused a thermal inversion at about 600 metres of altitude, which caused a kind of "cover" at lower levels. This meant that a pollutant smoke cloud that arose after the lava burned several banana plantations and fertilizers could not be diffused.

Added to this, the low strength of the trade winds, which allowed the breeze from the sea to enter the land with greater force, pushed that cloud of smoke to higher elevations. This was what forced confinement in the municipalities of El Paso and Los Llanos de Aridane.

Morcuende confirmed that this level of contamination is not excessive, although it can cause itchy eyes, minor bronchial discomfort, especially affecting people who have a weakened immune system, young children, and pregnant women.