2021 Cumbre Vieja volcanic eruption: Difference between revisions

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}

{{Infobox eruption

| image = LUN 8401.jpg

| caption = The eruption seen at night on 20 September 2021

| start_date = 19 September 2021<ref name="ElPais">{{cite web|url=https://elpais.com/ciencia/2021-09-19/entra-en-erupcion-el-volcan-en-la-palma.html|title=Entra en erupción el volcán en La Palma|date=19 September 2021|publisher=[[El País]]|accessdate=19 September 2021}}</ref>

| end_date = 13 December 2021<ref name="EL PAÍS in English">{{cite web|url=https://english.elpais.com/spain/2021-12-27/concerns-remain-as-la-palma-volcanic-eruption-ends-the-post-volcano-will-be-tougher-than-the-volcano.html|title=Concerns remain as La Palma volcanic eruption ends: 'The post-volcano will be tougher than the volcano'|date=27 December 2021|publisher=[[EL PAÍS]]|accessdate=27 December 2021}}</ref>

| type = [[Fissure eruption]]<br/>[[Strombolian eruption]]

| location = [[La Palma]], [[Spain]]

| map = File:Map of 2021 Cumbre Vieja eruption.png

| map_caption =Lava flows (red) as of 23 November 2021

|deaths=1<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cadenaser.com/emisora/2021/11/13/radio_club_tenerife/1636808493_329941.html|title=Encuentran muerto a un hombre de 70 años que participaba en la limpieza de ceniza por la erupción de La Palma |publisher=[[Cadena Ser]]|date=13 November 2021|accessdate=22 December 2021|language=Spanish}}</ref>|start_time= 15:12 [[Western European Summer Time|WEST]] (14:12 [[UTC]])<ref>{{cite news|title=El volcán Cumbre Vieja en La Palma entra en erupción |url=https://www.canarias7.es/nacional/volcan-cumbre-vieja-palma-6273272442001-20210919151505-vi.html |date=19 September 2021}}</ref>}}

 

==Previous eruptions==

The Cabeza de Vaca area is northwest of the two [[Cumbre Vieja#Volcanic history|1949 eruptive centers]], San Juan and Duraznero. During the [[Cumbre Vieja#Volcanic history|1949 eruption]], [[Fault (geology)|fault]] displacements also had westward components with movement down the volcano's flanks.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Global Volcanism Program {{!}} La Palma|url=https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=383010|access-date=20 September 2021|website=Smithsonian Institution {{!}} Global Volcanism Program|language=en|archive-date=23 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923031540/https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=383010|url-status=live}}</ref>

 

 

== Earthquake swarm before eruption==

On the fourth day, according to the Volcanological Institute of the Canary Islands, the volcano entered a more explosive phase, expelling less [[volcanic gas]].<ref>{{cite news|title=El volcán de La Palma entra en una nueva fase más explosiva|url=https://www.eldiario.es/canariasahora/lapalmaahora/sociedad/volcan-palma-entra-nueva-fase-explosiva-liberar-energia_1_8324805.html|date=21 September 2021|language=es|access-date=22 September 2021|archive-date=22 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922214532/https://www.eldiario.es/canariasahora/lapalmaahora/sociedad/volcan-palma-entra-nueva-fase-explosiva-liberar-energia_1_8324805.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

 

 

== Lava flows and earthquakes ==

[[File:La Palma Lava - 20-09-2021 17-50UTC-2.jpg|thumb|Close-up view of the area covered by the lava flow {{As of|2021|09|20|lc=y}}]]

[[File:LUN 8254.jpg|thumb|right|The eruption on 20 September]]

 

===September===

 

On the morning of 20 September, the Canarian Ministry of Education ordered the suspension of all classes in the schools of the nearby municipalities of [[El Paso, La Palma|El Paso]], [[Los Llanos de Aridane]] and [[Tazacorte]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.europapress.es/islas-canarias/noticia-suspenden-clases-paso-llanos-aridane-tazacorte-20210919200914.html|title=Suspenden las clases en El Paso, Los Llanos de Aridane y Tazacorte|date=20 September 2021|language=Spanish|access-date=20 September 2021|archive-date=22 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922223558/https://www.europapress.es/islas-canarias/noticia-suspenden-clases-paso-llanos-aridane-tazacorte-20210919200914.html|url-status=live}}</ref> That same morning, direct flights to the island of [[La Gomera]] were suspended, but were restored a few hours later. The day before, the [[public company]] in charge of [[Civil aviation|civil air navigation and civil airports]] in Spain, [[ENAIRE]], together with [[Eurocontrol]], activated the action procedure for [[volcanic ash]], but assured the public that [[air traffic]] over the Canary Islands was not affected.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/vida/20210920/7732770/cancelados-vuelos-gomera-repercusion-erupcion-volcan-la-palma.html|title=Recuperados los vuelos a La Gomera que habían sido cancelados tras la erupción|date=20 September 2021|language=Spanish|access-date=20 September 2021|archive-date=23 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923025008/https://www.lavanguardia.com/vida/20210920/7732770/cancelados-vuelos-gomera-repercusion-erupcion-volcan-la-palma.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 20 September, around two hundred houses have been destroyed by the flow, according to local authorities. No casualties were reported and flights continued into the islands.<ref name="R1" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=21 September 2021|title=Canaries volcano streams slow down, homes destroyed, thousands flee|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/thousands-flee-lava-spewing-volcano-spains-la-palma-island-destroys-houses-2021-09-20/|access-date=21 September 2021|website=Reuters|language=en|archive-date=22 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922223704/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/thousands-flee-lava-spewing-volcano-spains-la-palma-island-destroys-houses-2021-09-20/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Vega |first=Guillermo |translator-last=Hunter |translator-first=Simon |date=2021-09-20 |title=Lava from volcanic eruption on La Palma measures an average of six meters high and is flowing at 700 meters per hour|work=El País|url=https://english.elpais.com/spain/2021-09-20/lava-from-volcanic-eruption-on-la-palma-measures-an-average-of-six-meters-high-and-is-flowing-at-700-meters-per-hour.html |access-date=2021-09-20|archive-date=2021-09-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922224727/https://english.elpais.com/spain/2021-09-20/lava-from-volcanic-eruption-on-la-palma-measures-an-average-of-six-meters-high-and-is-flowing-at-700-meters-per-hour.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

 

 

On 24 September, the eruptive activity intensified, with further ash and volcanic material falling greater distances, forcing [[firefighters]] to withdraw from the neighbourhood of Todoque. Two new vents had opened in the side of the main cone, outpouring lava. Authorities extended the exclusion zone and ordered the evacuation of the neighbourhoods of Tajuya, Tacande de Abajo and Tacande de Arriba in the afternoon. Several civilian airlines suspended flights to the island due to the ash cloud.<ref>{{Cite news|date=24 September 2001|title=Volcanic activity increases on La Palma, prompting new evacuations and flight cancelations|work=El País|url=https://english.elpais.com/spain/2021-09-24/volcanic-activity-increases-on-la-palma-prompting-new-evacuations-and-flight-cancelations.html|access-date=24 September 2001|archive-date=24 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924163743/https://english.elpais.com/spain/2021-09-24/volcanic-activity-increases-on-la-palma-prompting-new-evacuations-and-flight-cancelations.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=24 September 2021|title=Volcán en La Palma, la erupción en directo {{!}} Evacuan tres poblaciones tras abrirse dos nuevas bocas eruptivas|language=Spanish|work=El Mundo|url=https://www.elmundo.es/ciencia-y-salud/ciencia/2021/09/24/614d0cd0e4d4d866658b45a1.html|access-date=24 September 2021|archive-date=24 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924053158/https://www.elmundo.es/ciencia-y-salud/ciencia/2021/09/24/614d0cd0e4d4d866658b45a1.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 26 September, the previously stalled lava flows started again to advance towards the coast, destroying the Todoque neighbourhood [[Iglesia de San Pío X (Todoque)|church of Saint Pius X]] and advancing to the sea at a speed of 100 to 200 metres (330 to 660 feet) per hour, mostly on top of the older flow. Meanwhile, the volcano seemed to have entered a more stabilised period after the previous days of more explosive eruptions with a slight fall in seismic activity that took place at deeper depths than before, according to IGN.<ref>{{Cite news|date=26 September 2021|title=Últimas noticias del volcán en erupción en La Palma, en directo {{!}} La lava se mueve a una velocidad de entre 100 y 200 metros por hora|language=Spanish|work=El País|url=https://elpais-com.translate.goog/espana/2021-09-26/ultimas-noticias-del-volcan-en-erupcion-en-la-palma-en-directo-la-ultima-hora-de-cumbre-vieja-en-canarias.html|access-date=26 September 2021}}{{Dead link|date=January 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Vega |first1=Guillermo |last2=Salas |first2=Javier |date=2021-09-26 |title=La colada de lava en La Palma se reactiva y avanza hacia la costa |language=Spanish |work=El País |url=https://elpais.com/sociedad/2021-09-26/la-colada-de-lava-en-la-palma-se-reactiva-y-avanza-hacia-la-costa.html |access-date=2021-09-26 |archive-date=2021-09-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926193147/https://elpais.com/sociedad/2021-09-26/la-colada-de-lava-en-la-palma-se-reactiva-y-avanza-hacia-la-costa.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

 

 

[[File:La Palma lava flows into the sea ESA23490653.jpeg|thumb|right|The course of the molten lava flow between its source (right) and the sea (left), seen by [[Copernicus Programme|Copernicus]] on 1 October]]

===October===

 

 

On 4 October, the main cone of the volcano collapsed, increasing the lava flow.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ahora|first=Canarias|date=3 October 2021|title=El cono principal del volcán de La Palma sufre un derrumbe parcial y aumenta el caudal de lava|url=https://www.eldiario.es/canariasahora/lapalmaahora/cono-principal-volcan-palma-sufre-derrumbe-parcial_1_8363214.html|access-date=4 October 2021|website=ElDiario.es|language=es|archive-date=4 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211004122105/https://www.eldiario.es/canariasahora/lapalmaahora/cono-principal-volcan-palma-sufre-derrumbe-parcial_1_8363214.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

 

 

|url=https://emergency.copernicus.eu/EMSR546

|title=EMSR546: Volcano eruption in La Palma, Spain

On 11 October, the northern side of the volcanic crater collapsed creating a new lava flow which threatened another urban district known as [[La Laguna (Los Llanos de Aridane)|La Laguna]].<ref name="ReferenceA">[[La Sexta]] Spanish television channel</ref>{{full citation needed|date=October 2021}}

 

 

 

 

 

On 17 October, the advance of the lava flows had slowed. There were plans to rescue five dogs who are trapped in a water tank between lava flows, although it was confirmed that one of them had died.<ref>{{cite news |title=The lava flows have not advanced and drone pilots are attempting rescue of four dogs |url=https://www.canarianweekly.com/posts/lava-flows-not-advanced-four-dogs-trapped |work=Canarian Weekly |date=17 October 2021}}</ref> The rescue would involve a specialist company, and the use of drones that usually transport cargo to ships in Gibraltar.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Vega |first1=Guillermo |title=Spanish drone company races to save trapped dogs on La Palma with 'unprecedented' rescue mission |url=https://english.elpais.com/spain/2021-10-18/spanish-drone-company-races-to-save-trapped-dogs-on-la-palma-with-unprecedented-rescue-mission.html?ssm=FB_CM_EN#Echobox=1634552768 |work=EL PAÍS English Edition |date=18 October 2021 |language=en}}</ref> By the evening, though, the lava flows reactivated, and it was expected that a second one of them will reach the sea shortly. Another earthquake of magnitude 4.6 occurred below Mazo.<ref>{{cite news |title=LA PALMA UPDATE: More lava and more earthquakes as eruption enters 5th week |url=https://www.canarianweekly.com/posts/la-palma-update-more-lava-more-earthquakes |work=Canarian Weekly |date=18 October 2021}}</ref> Meanwhile, 4,500 children went back to school again for the first time in 30 days, despite the volcanic eruption and COVID-19, with students from Los Campitos and Todoque relocated to a building in Los Llanos.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Menárguez |first1=Ana Torres |title=Más de 4.000 estudiantes vuelven a las clases en La Palma con un protocolo volcánico que colisiona con el de la covid |url=https://elpais.com/educacion/2021-10-18/mas-de-4000-estudiantes-vuelven-a-las-clases-en-la-palma-con-un-protocolo-volcanico-que-colisiona-con-el-de-la-covid.html |work=El País |date=18 October 2021 |language=es}}</ref> The lava flows have also impacted industrial structures such as cement plants, which have also caused gas clouds and explosions, and have affected flights at [[Tenerife North–Ciudad de La Laguna Airport]].<ref>{{cite news |title=La Palma sigue temblando por la fuerza del volcán y la nube de gases la asfixia poco a poco {{!}} Canariasenred – Noticias de Canarias |url=https://diariodeavisos.elespanol.com/canariasenred/la-palma-sigue-temblando-por-la-fuerza-del-volcan-y-la-nube-de-gases-asfixia-poco-a-poco-a-la-palma/ |date=18 October 2021 |language=es}}</ref>

By 19 October, one month after the start of the eruption, the lava had covered {{Convert|762|ha|acre}} of land, almost 30% of which were banana plantations, 1086 land plots, 1692 buildings and {{Convert|56.4|km|mi}} of roads.<ref>{{cite news |title=One month on, La Palma volcano continues to cause destruction |url=https://english.elpais.com/spain/2021-10-19/one-month-on-la-palma-volcano-continues-to-cause-destruction.html |date=19 October 2021 |access-date=20 October 2021 |website=elpais.com}}</ref>

 

 

On 25 October, the intensity of the earth tremors had increased and the lava flows to date had destroyed over 2,000 buildings.<ref name="ReferenceB">[[Cadena 24hrs]] Spanish television news channel</ref>{{full citation needed|date=October 2021}}

 

On 26 October, a magnitude 4.8 earthquake under Mazo was also felt in Tenerife, La Gomera and El Hierro.<ref>{{cite news |title=A 4.8 earthquake in La Palma has been felt in Tenerife, including the south |url=https://www.canarianweekly.com/posts/earthquake-la-palma-felt-tenerife |work=Canarian Weekly |date=26 October 2021}}</ref> The upper main part of the volcano also had a partial collapse, with the resulting lava flow following the previous flows into the sea.<ref>{{cite news |title=LA PALMA UPDATE: Lava flows towards the sea without causing further damage |url=https://www.canarianweekly.com/posts/la-palma-update-27102021 |work=Canarian Weekly |date=27 October 2021}}</ref>

 

 

 

On 28 October, at least 8 earthquakes over a magnitude 4 were felt in La Palma.<ref name="ReferenceB"/>{{full citation needed|date=October 2021}}

 

[[File:Buildings destroyed by 2021 Cumbre Vieja eruption.png|thumb|Extent of lava coverage by 23 November ([[Copernicus Emergency Management Service|Copernicus EMS]]), with highlight of destroyed buildings in [[Todoque]], [[La Laguna (Los Llanos de Aridane)|La Laguna]] and [[Los Campitos (Los Llanos de Aridane)|Los Campitos]]<ref name="CEMS:EMSR546" />]]

On 30 October, a magnitude 5 earthquake occurred, again under Mazo.<ref>{{cite news |title=La Palma registers an earthquake of magnitude 5, felt in Tenerife |url=https://www.canarianweekly.com/posts/magnitude-five-earthquake-felt-tenerife |work=Canarian Weekly |date=30 October 2021}}</ref> The area covered by lava flows had increased to around 963 hectares.<ref name="ReferenceB"/>{{Full citation needed|date=November 2021}}

 

 

===November===

On 14 November, a 72-year-old man died from injuries sustained when the roof of his house collapsed while he was clearing ash off it. His death was the first associated with the eruption.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cadenaser.com/emisora/2021/11/13/radio_club_tenerife/1636808493_329941.html|title = Encuentran muerto a un hombre de 70 años que participaba en la limpieza de ceniza por la erupción de la Palma|date = 13 November 2021}}</ref>

 

 

 

On 25 November, a new fissure opened to the south of the original cone, spewing lava which was less viscous and flowed faster.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eldiario.es/canariasahora/lapalmaahora/aparece-nuevo-centro-emision-lava-volcan-palma_1_8526228.html|title=Involcan confirma la aparición de una nueva boca eruptiva al sur del cono del volcán en La Palma|date=2021-11-25|publisher=[[Diario AS]]|language=es}}</ref>

On 12 December, the volcanic eruption broke the local record, when it reached 85 days of continuous activity. The eruption is considered to be the longest known eruption of a volcano on La Palma. Previously, the eruption of the [[Tajuya Volcano]] in 1585 was the longest at 84 days. No reliable data is available about previous volcanic eruptions.<ref name="AP2">{{Cite web |url=https://apnews.com/article/science-business-environment-and-nature-canary-islands-spain-eade125082d77bc1c8c1bebbde78b04a |title=Spanish island volcano eruption hits local record of 85 days |publisher=[[Associated Press]] |date=2021-12-12}}</ref><ref name="EP2">{{cite web |url=https://english.elpais.com/spain/2021-12-13/lockdown-lifted-for-33000-confined-on-la-palma-due-to-bad-air-quality-from-volcano.html?outputType=amp |title=Lockdown lifted for 33,000 confined on La Palma due to bad air quality from volcano |publisher=[[El País]] |date=2021-12-13}}</ref>

 

 

On 25 December, the eruption was declared to have ended after three months.<ref>{{Cite web|date=December 25, 2021|title=Spain declares volcano eruption on La Palma island over after destructive 3 months|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/spain-volcano-la-palma-declared-over-1.6298284|url-status=live|access-date=December 25, 2021|website=CBC|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211225173511/https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/spain-volcano-la-palma-declared-over-1.6298284 |archive-date=25 December 2021 }}</ref><ref name="BBC_over">{{cite news|title=Spain's La Palma volcano eruption declared over after three months|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-59791541|work=BBC News|date=25 December 2021}}</ref>

 

==Map of the affected areas==

 

==Political reactions==

[[File:At Tenerife 2021 0388.jpg|thumb|right|The ash plume seen from [[Tenerife]] on 30 September 2021; the Cumbre Vieja ridge can be seen on the left.]]

[[Prime Minister of Spain]] [[Pedro Sánchez]] went to the [[archipelago]] shortly after the eruption to see the situation on La Palma first-hand, the coordination of the system and the protocols activated, postponing a trip to [[New York City|New York]] to attend the [[Seventy-sixth session of the United Nations General Assembly]].<ref name="auto">{{cite news|url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20210919/7731964/sanchez-cancela-viaje-nueva-york-viaja-canarias-seguir-crisis-cumbre-vieja.html|title=Sánchez pospone su viaje a Nueva York y viaja a La Palma para seguir la crisis de Cumbre Vieja|date=19 September 2021|access-date=21 September 2021|archive-date=22 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922195546/https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20210919/7731964/sanchez-cancela-viaje-nueva-york-viaja-canarias-seguir-crisis-cumbre-vieja.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 20 September, the [[Ministry of Industry (Spain)|Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism]], [[Reyes Maroto]], declared that the eruption on La Palma could be used as a tourist attraction to lure visitors.<ref name="TG">{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/sep/20/spanish-minister-volcano-tourism-la-palma-canary-islands |title=Devastating volcano eruption can be used to lure tourists to Canaries, says minister |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=20 September 2021|access-date=30 September 2021}}</ref> Her comments caused widespread criticism, because homes, public buildings and businesses began to be destroyed by the lava flows. Later, due to mounting criticism, including from opposition politicians, Reyes Maroto retracted her words.<ref name="TG"/>

 

 

On 24 September, Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez announced that at the next meeting of the [[Council of Ministers (Spain)|council of ministers]], on 28 September, the island will be declared a disaster area, that the government is preparing a reconstruction plan and a set of immediate measures to provide housing for those families whose homes have been destroyed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://elpais.com/sociedad/2021-09-24/el-gobierno-declarara-la-palma-como-zona-catastrofica-y-anuncia-un-plan-de-reconstruccion.html |title=El Gobierno declarará La Palma como zona catastrófica y anuncia un plan de reconstrucción |last=Vega |first=Guillermo |date=2021-09-24 |language=Spanish |access-date=2021-09-24 |archive-date=2021-09-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924194325/https://elpais.com/sociedad/2021-09-24/el-gobierno-declarara-la-palma-como-zona-catastrofica-y-anuncia-un-plan-de-reconstruccion.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[Cumbre Vieja tsunami hazard]]

* [[List of volcanoes in Spain]]

 

== References ==

 

==External links==

 

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cumbre Vieja volcanic eruption, 2021}}

[[Category:2021 natural disasters]]

[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]

[[Category:La Palma]]