Volcanic eruption in La Palma – lava flow approaches the sea as the volcano enters the eruption phase

The Cumbre Vieja volcano continues to erupt in La Palma. The damage caused by lava is actually very significant. 183 homes were destroyed along with 200 other infrastructure, including farm buildings. But that number is likely to increase, as there are more homes in the path of the lava flow heading toward the sea.

Scientists from the Canary Islands Volcanic Institute reported that “lIt’s the earthquake network of the Canary Islands records“Since Tuesday afternoon, there has been a sharp increase in volcanic density at active vents formed since the eruption.

The intensity of the eruption of the La Palma volcano increased on Tuesday evening and is now in the so-called eruption phase.

That is, it has more intense activity and more explosions are generated because the gas is ejected more slowly. Meanwhile, lava is slowly advancing, threatening a thousand homes on its way out to sea, and in a desperate attempt, firefighters with bulldozers scatter their direction.

Local authorities estimate that lava has buried nearly 300 farms. Many farmers lost their homes and farms, with damage to the irrigation system essential to local agriculture.

The arrival of the flows into the sea, initially scheduled for Monday evening, is feared, but has been delayed by a slowing of the flow, as it could lead to erupting pieces of lava, waves of boiling water or emitting toxic gases, according to the United States Institute of Geological Studies (USGS).

“Clouds resulting from the interaction of seawater and lava are acidic” And ‘It can be dangerous if you are too close’, explained to AFP Patrick Allard of the Institute of Geophysics at the Globe Paris.

The government of the Canaries, which advised locals to cover their noses and mouths when going outside, issued a ruling “with a radius of exclusion of two nautical miles” around the expected arrival point. flows and asked the curious not to go there. In addition, new evacuation orders were issued. More than 6000 people were forced to leave their homes in the face of the advancing lava.