Since last Saturday when the north face of the volcanic cone collapsed, the effusive and eruptive activity of the volcano in La Palma has increased, with more fluid lava and rocks the size of three-storey houses being emitted, which have increased the affected area to 595 hectares. According to the report published yesterday by the Government's Department of Homeland Security (DSN), the most active wash is currently the one located furthest north.
While one of its new branches advances towards the sea with only 300 metres to reach it, the other has caused an explosion and fire at a cement factory after hydrocarbons combusted after coming into contact with the lava, which forced the confinement of 3,500 people in parts of El Paso and Los Llanos de Aridane.
In addition, access from Tazacorte to the evacuated areas has been prohibited until the evolution of the volcanic emergency to the north of the Todoque mountain is studied.
Part of the area affected by the lava flows
According to the emergency services confinement will be maintained until a new valuation has been made today, due to the advance of a lava flow in the Callejón de la Gata industrial zone, which could affect more warehouses and cause new combustion and gases that could be dangerous.
Along with the sulphur dioxide cloud, there is a significant amount of volcanic ash that has moved in an easterly direction due to high winds, although the dioxide values are still below the risk threshold.
Seismicity also continues and in the last 24 hours, an earthquake of 4.1 magnitude has been registered at a depth of 13 kilometres in the south of the island.
The La Palma airport continues to be open although some airlines are still cancelling flights to the island, and all others in the Canary Islands are fully operational as normal.
The Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, has scheduled a new visit to La Palma for tomorrow (Wednesday), which will be his fourth to the island since the eruption began.
Sánchez will present new measures to support the sectors affected by the eruption on the island, charged to the 206 million euros approved by the Council of Ministers, and will participate in the meeting of the steering committee of the Special Plan of Civil Protection against Volcanic Risk of Canary (Pevolca).
