La Palma volcano cone has shattered and threatens new urban areas

During the early hours of this Saturday (October 9), the north face of the Cumbre Vieja Volcano that erupted in La Palma, in the Atlantic archipelago of Las canary islands spain, it was partially broken and they had to evacuate the endangered areas, where lava has already devastated several buildings as it flowed from the crater.

According to the Canarian Institute of Volcanology (Involcan), the collapse caused the emission of new lava flows in various directions, which circulate through areas already evacuated. In total there are three lava flows: two of them are less dangerous, due to their low resistance, and a third, very abundant, which ended demolish houses and other infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano began on September 19 and so far 1,281 buildings affected and it damaged 95 infrastructures, while completely destroying 1,186.

In addition, the lava covered about 497 hectares, and a further 5,576 could have been damaged, according to Copernicus, a project dedicated to terrestrial observation. In addition, it is expected that there will be 38.3 kilometers of destroyed roads and an additional 3.1 kilometers that could suffer damage.

In contrast, La Palma airport was operational again, after being shut down for two days due to the build-up of volcanic ash, according to data from Aena, the company that manages Spanish airports.

Regarding the eruptive process, it should continue in the same way as the previous days, with a level 2 volcanic explosiveness (on a scale of maximum 8), although the volcanic signal light of the island remains red, it that is to say, emergency situation.