Thousands flee as volcano erupts on Spain's La Palma island, homes destroyed

[spaminator]

Hundreds evacuated as red-hot lava threatens homes in Spain's La Palma
Author of the article:Reuters
Reuters
Bart Biesemans and Silvio Castellanos
Publishing date:Oct 12, 2021 • 21 hours ago • 2 minute read • Join the conversation
A resident carries a mirror from her home as she prepares to evacuate the area in prevention of the arrival of lava from the Cumbre Vieja volcano in La Laguna, on the Canary Island of La Palma, Spain, Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021.
A resident carries a mirror from her home as she prepares to evacuate the area in prevention of the arrival of lava from the Cumbre Vieja volcano in La Laguna, on the Canary Island of La Palma, Spain, Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021. PHOTO BY SERGIO PEREZ /REUTERS
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LA PALMA — Over 700 residents were ordered to abandon their homes on Tuesday on the Spanish island of La Palma as red-hot lava advanced towards their neighbourhood.

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As the river of molten magma descended from the Cumbre Vieja volcano in the northeast of the Canary Island, authorities ordered between 700 and 800 inhabitants of La Laguna to leave home with their belongings and pets, according to the Canary Islands Volcanic Emergency Plan (Pevolca).


“We want to pick up documents and other things because our whole life is in that house and we cannot collect over 30 years in five minutes,” Enrique, 50, a Spanish home-owner, told Reuters.

Authorities gave homeowners until 18:00 GMT to collect their things.

“We have been obliged to evacuate a new area. The lava is advancing slowly. People should have time to take their documents, their personal items and anything of value,” said Miguel Angel Morcuende, technical director of Pevolca.

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There were 64 seismic movements on Tuesday, the strongest measuring 4.1, the Spanish National Geological Institute said.

La Palma airport remained open but 11 flights were cancelled on Tuesday and others were delayed, airport operator AENA said.


Earlier on Tuesday, officials lifted a lockdown ordered because of a cloud of smoke over two villages caused by the eruption, allowing more than 3,000 residents to go outside.

Lava gushing from the volcano engulfed a cement plant on Monday, raising clouds of smoke and prompting authorities to instruct people in the area to stay at home.

Lava from the eruption that began on Sept. 19 has laid waste to nearly 600 hectares in total, authorities said.

After the volcano’s cone partially collapsed on Saturday, a new river of lava streamed towards the sea, devouring banana and avocado plantations and most of the remaining houses in the town of Todoque.

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Torrents of molten rock have destroyed 1,186 buildings in the three weeks since the eruption, the Canary Islands Volcanic Institute said, and forced the evacuation of about 6,700 people.


Lava from the eruption that began on Sept. 19 has laid waste to nearly 600 hectares in total, authorities said.

After the volcano’s cone partially collapsed on Saturday, a new river of lava streamed towards the sea, devouring banana and avocado plantations and most of the remaining houses in the town of Todoque.

Torrents of molten rock have destroyed 1,186 buildings in the three weeks since the eruption, the Canary Islands Volcanic Institute said.

About 6,700 people have been evacuated from their homes on La Palma, which has about 83,000 inhabitants.

Hundreds evacuated as red-hot lava threatens homes in Spain's La Palma

LA PALMA — Over 700 residents were ordered to abandon their homes on Tuesday on the Spanish island of La Palma as red-hot lava advanced towards their…

torontosun.com

 

[spaminator]

No end in sight to volcanic eruption on Spain's La Palma
Author of the article:Reuters
Reuters
Miguel Gutierrez
Publishing date:Oct 17, 2021 • 13 hours ago • 1 minute read • Join the conversation
In this handout photograph taken and released by the Spanish Military Emergency Unit (UME) on October 16, 2021, members of the GIETMA (Technological and Environmental Emergencies Intervention Group) of the UME monitor the evolution of a new lava flow, following the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano, on the Canary island of La Palma.
In this handout photograph taken and released by the Spanish Military Emergency Unit (UME) on October 16, 2021, members of the GIETMA (Technological and Environmental Emergencies Intervention Group) of the UME monitor the evolution of a new lava flow, following the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano, on the Canary island of La Palma. PHOTO BY LUISMI ORTIZ /UME/AFP via Getty Images
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LA PALMA — There’s no immediate end in sight to the volcanic eruption that has caused chaos on the Spanish isle of La Palma since it began about a month ago, the president of the Canary Islands said on Sunday.

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There were 42 seismic movements on the island on Sunday, the largest of which measured 4.3, according to the Spanish National Geographical Institute.


“There are no signs that an end of the eruption is imminent even though this is the greatest desire of everyone,” President Angel Victor Torres said at a Socialist party conference in Valencia, citing the view of scientists.

Streams of lava have laid waste to more than 742 hectares (1833 acres) of land and destroyed almost 2,000 buildings on La Palma since the volcano started erupting on Sept. 19.

About 7,000 people have been evacuated from their homes on the island, which has about 83,000 inhabitants and forms part of the Canary Islands archipelago off northwestern Africa.


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Airline Binter said it had canceled all its flights to La Palma on Sunday because of ash from the volcano.

“Due to the current situation of the ash cloud, operations with La Palma will continue to be paralyzed throughout today. We continue to evaluate the situation,” the airline tweeted.

All of the 38 flights which were scheduled to arrive or take off from La Palma airport on Sunday were canceled because of ash from the volcano, state airport operator Aena said, but the airport there remains open.

No end in sight to volcanic eruption on Spain's La Palma

LA PALMA — There’s no immediate end in sight to the volcanic eruption that has caused chaos on the Spanish isle of La Palma since it began about a month ago,…

torontosun.com

 

[spaminator]

Drone operator will try to rescue dogs from Spanish volcano
Author of the article:Reuters
Reuters
Guillermo Martinez
Publishing date:Oct 19, 2021 • 20 hours ago • 1 minute read • Join the conversation
Lava from the Cumbre Vieja volcano burns a house on the Canary Island of La Palma, as seen from Tajuya, Spain, October 19, 2021.
Lava from the Cumbre Vieja volcano burns a house on the Canary Island of La Palma, as seen from Tajuya, Spain, October 19, 2021. PHOTO BY SUSANA VERA /REUTERS
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LA PALMA — A Spanish drone operator on Tuesday received permission to try to rescue three emaciated dogs trapped near a volcano in the Canary Islands, by catching them with a remote-controlled net and flying them out over a stream of lava.

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The three dogs have been stranded for weeks in an abandoned yard covered with volcanic ash on the island of La Palma.


They have been fed by drones dropping packages of food, but until now no one has been able to figure out how to rescue them. Helicopters are banned from flying to the area because of hot gas that can damage their rotors.

After evaluating the proposed rescue mission, emergency authorities said in a statement they had decided to allow it.

Jaime Pereira, CEO of drone operator Aerocamaras, said he plans to send a 50 kg drone equipped with a wide net to try to trap the dogs, one by one, and fly them to safety, 450 meters away over flowing lava.

“It’s the first time an animal is being rescued with a drone and the first time it has to be captured,” Pereira told Reuters. “If that’s the last option that the dogs have? Then we’re going after them.”


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The operator will have just four minutes to lure a dog to the net, and another four minutes to fly it out.

“What we don’t want is to run out of battery when flying over the lava,” Pereira said.

Test flights are still being carried out. Ultimately, the mission depends on how the dogs will respond to the machine, Pereira said.

“They’ve been eating very little for weeks. They might come, or become scared of the drone. We really depend on their reaction.”

Drone operator will try to rescue dogs from Spanish volcano

LA PALMA — A Spanish drone operator on Tuesday received permission to try to rescue three emaciated dogs trapped near a volcano in the Canary Islands, by…

torontosun.com

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

DAMN you, Joe Biden!

 

[spaminator]

Drone operator will try to rescue dogs from Spanish volcano
Author of the article:Reuters
Reuters
Guillermo Martinez
Publishing date:Oct 19, 2021 • 20 hours ago • 1 minute read • Join the conversation
Lava from the Cumbre Vieja volcano burns a house on the Canary Island of La Palma, as seen from Tajuya, Spain, October 19, 2021.
Lava from the Cumbre Vieja volcano burns a house on the Canary Island of La Palma, as seen from Tajuya, Spain, October 19, 2021. PHOTO BY SUSANA VERA /REUTERS
Article content
LA PALMA — A Spanish drone operator on Tuesday received permission to try to rescue three emaciated dogs trapped near a volcano in the Canary Islands, by catching them with a remote-controlled net and flying them out over a stream of lava.

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The three dogs have been stranded for weeks in an abandoned yard covered with volcanic ash on the island of La Palma.


They have been fed by drones dropping packages of food, but until now no one has been able to figure out how to rescue them. Helicopters are banned from flying to the area because of hot gas that can damage their rotors.

After evaluating the proposed rescue mission, emergency authorities said in a statement they had decided to allow it.

Jaime Pereira, CEO of drone operator Aerocamaras, said he plans to send a 50 kg drone equipped with a wide net to try to trap the dogs, one by one, and fly them to safety, 450 meters away over flowing lava.

“It’s the first time an animal is being rescued with a drone and the first time it has to be captured,” Pereira told Reuters. “If that’s the last option that the dogs have? Then we’re going after them.”


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The operator will have just four minutes to lure a dog to the net, and another four minutes to fly it out.

“What we don’t want is to run out of battery when flying over the lava,” Pereira said.

Test flights are still being carried out. Ultimately, the mission depends on how the dogs will respond to the machine, Pereira said.

“They’ve been eating very little for weeks. They might come, or become scared of the drone. We really depend on their reaction.”
View attachment 10518

Drone operator will try to rescue dogs from Spanish volcano

LA PALMA — A Spanish drone operator on Tuesday received permission to try to rescue three emaciated dogs trapped near a volcano in the Canary Islands, by…

torontosun.com

DAMN you, Joe Biden!

sadly only the white dogs were rescued.

 

[Ron in Regina]

As sad as this is for the local residents, The longer this relief valve continues, I’m assuming it lessens the odds of a catastrophic slump of the western half of that island.

 

[pgs]

DAMN you, Joe Biden!

A little buyers remorse setting in ?

 

[spaminator]

As sad as this is for the local residents, The longer this relief valve continues, I’m assuming it lessens the odds of a catastrophic slump of the western half of that island.

the longer the volcano erupts the more pressure that is released which is a good thing.

 

[spaminator]

Rock rises out of the sea as second La Palma lava flow reaches ocean
Author of the article:Reuters
Reuters
Publishing date:Nov 10, 2021 • 16 hours ago • 1 minute read • Join the conversation
Lava spewed by Cumbre Vieja volcano reaches the Atlantic Ocean at Los Guirres beach in this handout image released by Spanish Transport Ministry on the Canary Island of La Palma, Spain, Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021.
Lava spewed by Cumbre Vieja volcano reaches the Atlantic Ocean at Los Guirres beach in this handout image released by Spanish Transport Ministry on the Canary Island of La Palma, Spain, Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021. PHOTO BY SPANISH TRANSPORT MINISTRY / HANDOUT /REUTERS
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MADRID — New cascades of red-hot lava tumbled into the Atlantic Ocean off Spain’s La Palma on Wednesday morning, sending up plumes of white smoke and extending a platform of volcanic rock created by earlier flows.

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The stream of molten rock from the Cumbre Vieja volcano, which began erupting in mid-September, reached the water near the popular surf spot of Los Guirres beach just before 2 a.m, according to the Transport Ministry.


A video uploaded by Spain’s Geology and Mining Institute showed rivers of molten rock sliding into the sea and large rocks rolling down a cliff, causing a cone of debris to emerge from the waterline.

Unlike the first time lava reached the ocean – just over a month ago – authorities said there was no need for residents to stay indoors.

“New confinements are not necessary because the populations are far away from the point of contact with the sea that occurred last night,” an emergency services spokesperson told Reuters.

Few people live in the affected area, which is mostly banana plantations.


Early on in the eruption authorities had feared that the reaction between the superheated lava and seawater could unleash powerful explosions and set off toxic gas clouds.

During the last major eruption on the island, some 50 years ago, a man died after inhaling such gases.

La Palma’s council said on Tuesday that seismic activity around the eruption site, as well as emissions of toxic sulfur dioxide, had been decreasing and the air quality remained good across most of the island.

Rock rises out of the sea as second La Palma lava flow reaches ocean

MADRID — New cascades of red-hot lava tumbled into the Atlantic Ocean off Spain’s La Palma on Wednesday morning, sending up plumes of white smoke and extending…

torontosun.com

 

[spaminator]

La Palma volcano eruption declared over after three months of destruction

Author of the article:
Reuters
Reuters
Nathan Allen and Silvio Castellanos
Publishing date:
Dec 25, 2021 • 18 hours ago • 2 minute read •
Join the conversation
A drone pilot takes a picture of the mountain created by the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano after of 89 days of its start, in the area of Las Manchas, in El Paso, on the Canary Island of La Palma, Spain, December 17, 2021.
A drone pilot takes a picture of the mountain created by the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano after of 89 days of its start, in the area of Las Manchas, in El Paso, on the Canary Island of La Palma, Spain, December 17, 2021. Photo by BORJA SUAREZ /REUTERS
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MADRID — Scientists declared the eruption on Spain’s La Palma officially over on Saturday, allowing islanders to breathe a sigh of relief nearly 100 days after the Cumbre Vieja volcano began to spew out lava, rock and ash and upended the lives of thousands.
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After bursting into action on Sept. 19, the volcano suddenly went quiet on Monday Dec. 13 but the authorities, wary of raising false hope, held off until Christmas Day to give the all-clear.

“What I want to say today can be said with just four words: The eruption is over,” Canary Islands regional security chief Julio Perez told a news conference on Saturday.

During the eruption, lava had poured down the mountainside, swallowing up houses, churches and many of the banana plantations that account for nearly half the island’s economy. Although property was destroyed, no one was killed.

Maria Jose Blanco, director of the National Geographic Institute on the Canaries, said all indicators suggested the eruption had run out of energy but she did not rule out a future reactivation.
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Some 3,000 properties were destroyed by lava that now covers 1,219 hectares – equivalent to roughly 1,500 soccer pitches – according to the final tally by the emergency services.

Of the 7,000 people evacuated, most have returned home but many houses that remain standing are uninhabitable due to ash damage. With many roads blocked, some plantations are now only accessible by sea.

German couple Jacqueline Rehm and Juergen Doelz were among those forced to evacuate, fleeing their rented house in the village of Todoque and moving to their small sail boat for seven weeks.

“We couldn’t save anything, none of the furniture, none of my paintings, it’s all under the lava now,” said Rehm, 49, adding that they would move to nearby Tenerife after Christmas.

“I’m not sure it’s really over. I don’t trust this beast at all,” she said.

The volcanic roar that served as a constant reminder of the eruption may have subsided and islanders no longer have to carry umbrellas and goggles to protect against ash, but a mammoth cleanup operation is only just getting underway.

The government has pledged more than 400 million euros ($453 million) for reconstruction but some residents and businesses have complained that funds are slow to arrive.

($1 = 0.8836 euros) (Reporting by Nathan Allen; Editing by Edmund Blair)

La Palma volcano eruption declared over after three months of destruction

MADRID — Scientists declared the eruption on Spain’s La Palma officially over on Saturday, allowing islanders to breathe a sigh of relief nearly 100 days after…

torontosun.com