La Palma volcano: a landslide joined the eruptive vents and increased the lava flow | Seismic movements have been recorded on the island

A collapse of the structure of the Cumbre Vieja volcano, on the Spanish island of Lin Palma, caused a higher lava output. The eruption is already affecting 400 hectares and the fall of the magma has formed a marine delta of 29.7 hectares, the Department of Homeland Security (DSN) reported on Monday. Also seismic movements were recorded on the island.

Sunday evening there was a partial collapse of the cone structure which would have joined the eruptive mouths of the volcano, which caused an increase in the flow of lava which reached at some points a kilometer wide.

The ash mainly affects the southern slope of La Palma and it is not excluded that finer ash particles can reach the island of El Hierro, said the DSN. In order to deterioration of air quality In this area, it was decided to evacuate the scientific and emergency personnel working there.

16,000 tonnes of sulfur dioxide were emitted on Sunday (SO2), according to the Volcanological Institute of the Canary Islands (Involcan), an amount that could be even higher due to the limitations of measurements made with remote optical sensors of the miniDOAS type in the land mobile position (with the instrumentation mounted on a vehicle mobile). ), explained Involcan on social media.

The interest in sulfur dioxide monitoring responds to the fact that the emission of this geochemical parameter is “closely” linked to the rate of magma emission of this type of volcanic system, they have said since Involcan.

If a downward trend is observed of this geochemical parameter during the eruptive process it will be an “unequivocal” sign that the rash is coming to an end, explained representatives of the Institute.

Lack of potable water

On the island drinking water supply has been affected in the towns of El Paso and Los Llanos de Aridane, although the electricity supply and telecommunications would function normally.

To guarantee the irrigation of the affected plantations, it is expected that this Monday two portable desalination plants will arrive in La Palma which will be installed in the region of Puerto Naos and an oil tanker moved from the peninsula with a capacity of 30,000 cubic meters which will increase the flow of water for irrigation.

Nearly 40 tremors on the island

The National Geographic Institute (IGN) located early this Monday a 3.7 magnitude earthquake in the municipality of Fuencaliente, about 11 kilometers deep, after a night of strong seismic activity. Also there was another 3.4 quake in Mazo, 13 kilometers deep.

Between the other earthquake of 3.7, located at a depth of 12 kilometers southwest of Villa de Mazo, around 8:15 p.m. Sunday, and the latter, recorded at 7:20 a.m. Monday, IGN counted up to 40 shakes, all divided between Mazo and Fuencaliente.