Significant volcanic eruption in La Palma

Image of the new volcano taken Sunday night. Source: C7/ISMAEL SANTANA / MOISÉS RODRÍGUEZ

Just when you've had a quiet Sunday out in nature and not bothering to check yet again the recent swarm of minor earthquakes in La Palma Island, La Gomera's western neighbour, you come home late after a meal and few beers and the morning's worries are confirmed.

There's a significant volcanic eruption on La Palma in the Cumbre Viejo area and about 2.000 people have been evacuated as a precaution while the first house was engulfed by the lava flow. According to the Canary Islands press, police are preparing to evacuate several thousand more. Several hundred tourists have been evacuated and given accommodation in safe areas, according to local press.

(UPDATE Monday morning: Now more than 5.000 people have been evacuated and more than 100 houses were engulfed by the lava flow)

Image source: Canarias7/REUTERS/BORJA SUAREZ

In the municipal areas affected (El Paso, Los Llanos de Aridane, Tazacorte) schools have suspended classes. The military emergency unit UME has been sent to La Palma island. There are no reports of any personal injuries, but several houses have been damaged by lava.

Fred. Olsen ferries have already given priority to emergency crews going to La Palma island and some regular passengers were refused boarding its service on Sunday, so any intending passengers should check with their ferry company if they can travel.

Image taken Sunday night, Sept. 20th 2021 (Source: canarias7.es)

The eruption is said to extend to two fissures with eight active craters separated by a distance of two hundred metres. The main crater extends to a fissure of 150 metres. The volcanic eruption started Sunday, Sept. 19th 2021 after 3 pm.

The Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez cancelled his visit to New York to go to La Palma instead and has assured the citizens of La Palma that their safety is assured and that any damages will be covered by his government. The king of Spain has pledged his 'all his support' for the people of La Palma to the Canarian president.

Live video of the eruption can be seen on Canary Islands' main TV station RTVC.

The alert level has been changed from yellow straight to RED, skipping amber.

This being a developing situation, I'll close for now as I need some sleep and will be posting more soon...

UPDATE Monday 20-09-2021, 3:15pm:

Just 24 hours after the begin of the eruption it was expected that the first lava could reach the sea tonight, after widening and flowing through a more populated area. 

There are now three main Lava flows, each of several metres thickness, advancing slowly towards the coast at a speed of about 700 metres per hour. More houses and farmland in their path have been destroyed.

UPDATE Tuesday 21-09-2021: 

A further crater has opened late yesterday and scientists say more may open. By now more than 200 houses have been destroyed and more than 6.000 people are now evacuated. The lave has still not reached the sea and has now entered the town of Todoque, slowing further and widening its path. It's still not clear when it will interact with the Atlantic, but it is now not far away anymore. The seismic activity continues with regular tremors, a few of which were felt all over La Palma island.

UPDATE SUNDAY Sept 26th, 2021 (click to read)

Below a map of probabilities of lava flow and resulting danger areas:

A plume of ash, gases and fumes has been blowing towards and over La Gomera as far as the western coast of Africa, which was observed from space. The image of the emissions was taken late on Monday (below):

Source: Copernicus

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Below a map of seismic activity on La Palma over the two weeks before the eruption. The strongest quake measured 4.2 on the Richter scale:

(Source: Instituto Geografico Nacional)