Toxic gas fears as La Palma lava reaches North Atlantic ocean

Laura Sharman @LauraSharman_29 September 2021

Lava flowing from a volcano in La Palma has reached the sea raising fears it could trigger explosions and clouds of toxic gas.

Red hot lava reached the Atlantic Ocean late on Tuesday evening, nine days after the Cumbre Vieja crater first erupted on the Spanish island.

Big clouds of white steam billowed up from the Playa Nueva area as the hot molten rock made contact with the water.

Photographs shared on social media showed the lava piling up near a cliff.

The Canary Islands’ emergency service urged those outdoors to immediately find a safe place to shelter. No injuries have been reported.

Miguel Angel Morcuende, director of the Pevolca response committee, said: “When the lava reaches the sea, the lockdown must be strictly observed.”

La Palma has been left devastated since the lava began flowing down the mountain, wrecking buildings and destroying crops.

It began pouring down the Cumbre Vieja volcano’s western flank toward the sea on September 19, destroying almost 600 houses and banana plantations.

Lava is seen from El Paso following the eruption of a volcano on the Canary Island of La Palma
Lava seen through the window of a kitchen from El Paso
REUTERS

Thousands of people have been evacuated and three coastal villages were locked down on Monday in anticipation of the lava meeting the Atlantic Ocean.

Tourists turned to the sea and queued for ferries over the weekend when La Palma Airport closed due to an ash cloud.

Spain classified La Palma as a disaster zone on Tuesday, a move that will trigger financial support for the island.

The government announced a first package of 10.5 million euros which includes around 5 million euros to buy houses, with the rest to acquire furniture and essential household goods, government spokesperson Isabel Rodriguez said.

One resident who was evacuated last week from the village of Tacande de Arriba was delighted to find his house still standing and his pet cats unscathed.

“It’s a good feeling, a fantastic feeling,” said Gert Waegerle, 75, who fled the advancing lava with his five turtles on Friday but had to leave the cats behind.

“I am super happy because in the end, everything turned out fine.”

La Palma neighbours Tenerife in the Canary Islands archipelago off the North African coast.

Canary Island Volcano: In Pictures

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