LA PALMA – The volcanic eruption of the Cumbre Vieja on the Canary Island of La Palma has entered a stable phase. Although this is good news, the wind still causes a lot of ash particles. So it was decided on Thursday morning to close La Palma airport.
Scientists tell the Spanish press the worst damage, reaching the stable phase, has been done in the past three weeks. The chairman of the emergency plan Pevolca, Miguel Ángel Morcuende, emphasised that the utmost caution should still be exercised. But that the development of the volcanic eruption is changing, and thus stabilising.
Wind makes air quality La Palma worse
However, the wind ensures the floating ash particles caused by the eruption make the island´s air quality worse at first. Director of the National Geographic Institute IGN said on Wednesday that the high concentration of microparticles registered to date has not presented any danger to the population.
La Palma Airport closed due to ash particles
The air quality is still far from good, according to the announcement made by the AENA via Twitter. The airport authority decided on Thursday morning to close La Palma airport because there are too many ash particles floating in the air and visibility is therefore far from optimal. “Safety is our priority,” AENA reports. To date, the closure of the airport on La Palma means that 34 national and inter-island flights have been cancelled. All other airports in the Canary Islands are easily accessible.
King of Spain to visit Canary Islands for several days
The Spanish king has been in the Canary Islands for several days now. A visit is planned on Thursday in Tenerife to visit entrepreneurs in the tourism sector together with the Queen and to support them after the impact of the corona pandemic and now the volcanic eruption on La Palma. Two weeks ago, Felipe VI was also on La Palma to show support to the inhabitants of the island.
