SANTA CRUZ DE LA PALMA – The main cone of the La Palma volcano has partially collapsed, the Volcanological Institute of the Canary Islands, Involcan has reported. There has also been another severe earthquake.
At the same time, the National Geographic Institute (IGN) seismograph reports several new lava flows have formed further west of the secondary cone. “The dynamics are changing. We will have to evaluate this with more data during the day,” Domínguez said on his Twitter account.
The scientific committee advising Pevolca has insisted the strombolian eruption process is characterised by a constant variation of the cone. There will be new foci in the vicinity of the main eruption centre.
The Higher Centre for Scientific Research has posted a video showing the activity of four eruptive mouths with “intense and diverse” activity: ash and pyroclast emissions, strombolian activity and lava abundance with white outgassing.
Strongest earthquake
Furthermore, an earthquake measuring 4.9 on the Richter scale occurred at 4:40 pm on Saturday. That is the largest since the volcano’s eruption began on 19th September. According to the IGN the epicentre was near Maza on the southeast of the island at a depth of 38 kilometres.
The main flow of lava closing in on La Laguna has stopped at the front. However, it is receiving “a lot of contribution” from lava in the rear upstream, as confirmed by the thermal imagers. The course will be determined in the coming hours on the way to sea.
Damage so far
According to the latest update to the Copernicus system, 889 hectares have been destroyed and 2,129 buildings destroyed. All this, the Prime Minister of the Spanish government, Pedro Sánchez, was able to verify himself on Saturday. It is his fifth visit to La Palma. He announced an increase in the emergency fund, so victims can receive help more quickly.
