Homes and villages buried in ash as La Palma volcano eruption continues
Incredible images show homes and entire villages buried in ash in Spain’s Canary Islands as a volcanic eruption approaches its fourth month.
Amazing images from Spain’s Canary Islands show homes – and entire villages – buried in ash as an ongoing volcanic eruption heads into its fourth month.
The Cumbre Vieja volcano on the island of La Palma erupted on September 19, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate from the spewing lava, ash, smoke and toxic fumes.
La Palma, the fifth largest of the Canary Islands off the northwest coast of Africa, is home to about 80,000 people. Cumbre Vieja forms a volcanic ridge on the southern part of the island.
Nearly 80 days on and the eruption shows no signs of stopping.
So far, more than 2600 buildings have been destroyed, including the entire town of Todoque, with 7000 residents forced to evacuate.
According to the Canary Islands Volcanology Institute, the Cumbre Vieja eruption is now officially the most damaging to hit the island out of eight on record, stretching back to 1430.
The last eruption occurred half a century ago in 1971, with lava flows covering 276 hectares. Previously the most damaging eruption was in 1712, affecting 441 hectares.
The ongoing eruption has more than doubled that record, with lava flow covering at least 1000 hectares.
It could also soon surpass the duration of 1646 Tehuya volcano, which spewed lava and ash for 84 days.
So far one death has been recorded, but it’s not clear whether it was linked to the eruption.
The 70-year-old man who had been volunteering in the ash clean-up operations had returned to his home on the edge of the exclusion zone to collect some belongings.
His body was later found inside the home. Authorities last month were conducting an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
The Spanish government has declared La Palma a disaster area.
In September, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez vowed to provide housing and financial aid to those affected, and to work on a reconstruction plan with local authorities.
“We are all as one, working side by side to respond to immediate and future problems, to the reconstruction of La Palma,” he said.
“All of Spain is with La Palma. All administrations are working to provide immediate solutions and also for future reconstruction.”
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