Cumbre Vieja volcano cone collapsed: airport was closed due to ash

The airport of the Spanish island of Palm ceased to operate this Saturday September 25 at Cumbre Vieja volcano ash, as the authorities called for calm due to the intensification of the eruption, despite the crumbling of part of the cone.

The airport is “located inoperative due to ash accumulation“AENA (Spanish airports and air navigation) reported.” The cleaning tasks have started, but the situation can change at any time, “he added, adding that” the rest of the airports “of Canary Islands, one of the main tourist destinations in Spain, “are operational”.

On Friday the first flights to La Palma were canceled since Sunday began on volcanic eruption, without any casualties so far. Before the airport closed, long queues formed at the port of Santa Cruz de La Palma in an attempt to leave the island by ferry to neighboring islands, mainly Tenerife, which are best served.

The airport stop coincided with the opening of new lava foci, the crumbling of part of the cone, and, in general, an intensification of the activity of the volcano, before which the authorities called for calm, ensuring that it is part of the normal in this region.

“We are not facing a volcano that must be enlarged, we are facing a typical volcano of the Canary IslandsMiguel Ángel Morcuende, director of Pevolcan (Canary Islands Volcanic Emergency Plan) said this Saturday.

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“Although yesterday we had a phenomenon of irritability, that is to say of significant increase in the energy of the rash, follows the usual canons, ”he explained. “We are not faced with a more explosive phenomenon than those usual in the Canary Islands, and I say this above all for the tranquility of the palm trees”, he said.

The last two eruptions on the island occurred in 1971 and 1949, resulting in a total of three deaths, two of which were from gas inhalation.

The the fear of the collapse of part of the cone led to order the evacuation of another area of ​​the island, a measure that affected 160 people and brought to more than 6,200 the number of inhabitants who had to leave their homes.

Finally, a small part of the cone sank, but it “didn’t have a major impact other than a smoother lava flow,” Marcuende explained. This phenomenon “is not a strange thing”, he added. “In Strombolian-type eruptions what is generated is a crater which may later not support its own weight” and the blasts cause “cone rupture”.

According to the European Copernicus geospatial measurement system, the lava flow covers an area of ​​190 hectares and destroyed 420 buildings. In view of the proliferation of ashes, the health authorities of the Canaries have recommended to stay indoors.

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“After a rain of ash, it is recommended to stay sheltered inside the house with the doors and windows closed,” said the Canary Islands health service, a particularly important recommendation for “minors, pregnant women, the elderly and people with a lung or heart “. sickness”.

“Those who must stay in an area of ​​ash exposure, should use an FPP2 mask, protective goggles and cover their skin with a long-sleeved shirt, pants and cap,” added the board.

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