Inside La Palma’s restricted area after devastating volcanic eruption finally declared over - Science Club

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Friday, January 28, 2022

Inside La Palma’s restricted area after devastating volcanic eruption finally declared over

Vegetation area from the access to one of the restricted areas of La Palma affected by the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano (Getty)

The devastating volcanic eruption that has decimated one of Spain’s Canary Islands since September is officially over.

The eruption on La Palma was declared over following 10 days of no lava flows, seismic activity or significant sulfur dioxide emissions.

But the emergency in La Palma, the most northwest island in the Atlantic Ocean archipelago, is not finished.

The director of the Canaries’ volcanic emergency committee Pevolca has spoken of the widespread damage the eruption caused.

‘It’s not joy or satisfaction – how we can define what we feel? It’s an emotional relief. And hope,’ Pevolca director Julio Perez said.

LA PALMA, CANARY ISLANDS, SPAIN - DECEMBER 27: Vegetation area from the access to one of the restricted areas of La Palma 'El Pilar', affected by the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano, on 27 December, 2021 on La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain. After 85 days of activity, the eruption of the volcano on La Palma came to an end on 25 December. According to the latest Copernicus calculation, 1,241.1 hectares have been destroyed by lava and 2,988 buildings of all types, of which 1,345 were houses. This eruption is considered the longest since records have been kept. (Photo By Cezaro De Luca/Europa Press via Getty Images)
After 85 days of activity, the eruption of the volcano on La Palma came to an end on 25 December. (Getty)
LA PALMA, CANARY ISLANDS, SPAIN - DECEMBER 27: Several firefighters access one of the restricted areas of La Palma 'El Pilar', affected by the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano, on 27 December, 2021 on La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain. After 85 days of activity, the eruption of the volcano on La Palma came to an end on 25 December. According to the latest Copernicus calculation, 1,241.1 hectares have been destroyed by lava and 2,988 buildings of all types, of which 1,345 were houses. This eruption is considered the longest since records have been kept. (Photo By Cezaro De Luca/Europa Press via Getty Images)
Several firefighters access one of the restricted areas of La Palma (Getty)
LA PALMA, CANARY ISLANDS, SPAIN - DECEMBER 27: A firefighter accesses one of the restricted areas of La Palma 'El Pilar', affected by the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano, on 27 December, 2021 on La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain. After 85 days of activity, the eruption of the volcano on La Palma came to an end on 25 December. According to the latest Copernicus calculation, 1,241.1 hectares have been destroyed by lava and 2,988 buildings of all types, of which 1,345 were houses. This eruption is considered the longest since records have been kept. (Photo By Cezaro De Luca/Europa Press via Getty Images)
A firefighter working in the restricted area (Getty)
Spanish military begin clearing volcanic ash from La Palma
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‘Because now, we can apply ourselves and focus completely on the reconstruction work.’

Fiery molten rock flowing down toward the sea destroyed around 3,000 buildings, entombed banana plantations and vineyards, ruined irrigation systems and cut off roads.

But thankfully, no injuries or deaths were directly linked to the eruption.

Perez, who is also the region’s minister of public administration, justice and security, said the archipelago’s government valued the loss of buildings and infrastructure at more than 900 million euros ($1 billion).

LA PALMA, CANARY ISLANDS, SPAIN - DECEMBER 27: Several firefighters access one of the restricted areas of La Palma 'El Pilar', affected by the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano, on 27 December, 2021 on La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain. After 85 days of activity, the eruption of the volcano on La Palma came to an end on 25 December. According to the latest Copernicus calculation, 1,241.1 hectares have been destroyed by lava and 2,988 buildings of all types, of which 1,345 were houses. This eruption is considered the longest since records have been kept. (Photo By Cezaro De Luca/Europa Press via Getty Images)
According to the latest Copernicus calculation, 1,241.1 hectares have been destroyed by lava (Getty)
LA PALMA, CANARY ISLANDS, SPAIN - DECEMBER 27: Several firefighters access one of the restricted areas of La Palma 'El Pilar', affected by the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano, on 27 December, 2021 on La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain. After 85 days of activity, the eruption of the volcano on La Palma came to an end on 25 December. According to the latest Copernicus calculation, 1,241.1 hectares have been destroyed by lava and 2,988 buildings of all types, of which 1,345 were houses. This eruption is considered the longest since records have been kept. (Photo By Cezaro De Luca/Europa Press via Getty Images)
This eruption is considered the longest since records have been kept. (Getty)
LA PALMA, CANARY ISLANDS, SPAIN - DECEMBER 27: A dog in one of the restricted areas of La Palma 'El Pilar', affected by the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano, on 27 December, 2021 on La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain. After 85 days of activity, the eruption of the volcano on La Palma came to an end on 25 December. According to the latest Copernicus calculation, 1,241.1 hectares have been destroyed by lava and 2,988 buildings of all types, of which 1,345 were houses. This eruption is considered the longest since records have been kept. (Photo By Cezaro De Luca/Europa Press via Getty Images)
A dog wanders through one of the restricted areas (Getty)

Volcanologists said they needed to certify that three key variables – gas, lava and tremors – had subsided in the Cumbre Vieja ridge for 10 days in order to declare the volcano’s apparent exhaustion.

Since the eruption started on September 19, previous periods of reduced activity were followed by reignitions.

On the eve of December 14, the volcano fell silent after flaring for 85 days and 8 hours, making it La Palma’s longest eruption on record.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called the eruption’s end ‘the best Christmas present.’

LA PALMA, CANARY ISLANDS, SPAIN - DECEMBER 27: Several firefighters access one of the restricted areas of La Palma 'El Pilar', affected by the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano, on 27 December, 2021 on La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain. After 85 days of activity, the eruption of the volcano on La Palma came to an end on 25 December. According to the latest Copernicus calculation, 1,241.1 hectares have been destroyed by lava and 2,988 buildings of all types, of which 1,345 were houses. This eruption is considered the longest since records have been kept. (Photo By Cezaro De Luca/Europa Press via Getty Images)
Although the eruption has finished, the emergency is far from over (Getty)
FILE - A fissure is seen next to a house covered with ash on the Canary island of La Palma, Spain, Dec. 1 2021. Authorities on a Spanish island are declaring a volcanic eruption that has caused widespread damage but no casualties officially finished, following ten days of no significant sulfur dioxide emissions, lava flows or seismic activity. But the emergency in La Palma, the northwesternmost of the Atlantic Ocean's Canary Islands, is not over yet, said the director of the archipelago???s volcanic emergency committee, or Pevolca, Julio P??rez. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti, File)
A fissure is seen next to a house covered with ash on the Canary island of La Palma (AP)
LA PALMA, CANARY ISLANDS, SPAIN - DECEMBER 27: Several firefighters access one of the restricted areas of La Palma 'El Pilar', affected by the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano, on 27 December, 2021 on La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain. After 85 days of activity, the eruption of the volcano on La Palma came to an end on 25 December. According to the latest Copernicus calculation, 1,241.1 hectares have been destroyed by lava and 2,988 buildings of all types, of which 1,345 were houses. This eruption is considered the longest since records have been kept. (Photo By Cezaro De Luca/Europa Press via Getty Images)
Several firefighters move access one of the restricted areas of La Palma (Getty)

‘We will continue working together, all institutions, to relaunch the marvelous island of La Palma and repair the damage,’ he tweeted.

Farming and tourism are the main industries on the Canary Islands, a popular destination for many European vacationers due to their mild climate.

Vegetation area from the access to one of the restricted areas of La Palma affected by the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano (Getty)

The devastating volcanic eruption that has decimated one of Spain’s Canary Islands since September is officially over.

The eruption on La Palma was declared over following 10 days of no lava flows, seismic activity or significant sulfur dioxide emissions.

But the emergency in La Palma, the most northwest island in the Atlantic Ocean archipelago, is not finished.

The director of the Canaries’ volcanic emergency committee Pevolca has spoken of the widespread damage the eruption caused.

‘It’s not joy or satisfaction – how we can define what we feel? It’s an emotional relief. And hope,’ Pevolca director Julio Perez said.

LA PALMA, CANARY ISLANDS, SPAIN - DECEMBER 27: Vegetation area from the access to one of the restricted areas of La Palma 'El Pilar', affected by the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano, on 27 December, 2021 on La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain. After 85 days of activity, the eruption of the volcano on La Palma came to an end on 25 December. According to the latest Copernicus calculation, 1,241.1 hectares have been destroyed by lava and 2,988 buildings of all types, of which 1,345 were houses. This eruption is considered the longest since records have been kept. (Photo By Cezaro De Luca/Europa Press via Getty Images)
After 85 days of activity, the eruption of the volcano on La Palma came to an end on 25 December. (Getty)
LA PALMA, CANARY ISLANDS, SPAIN - DECEMBER 27: Several firefighters access one of the restricted areas of La Palma 'El Pilar', affected by the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano, on 27 December, 2021 on La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain. After 85 days of activity, the eruption of the volcano on La Palma came to an end on 25 December. According to the latest Copernicus calculation, 1,241.1 hectares have been destroyed by lava and 2,988 buildings of all types, of which 1,345 were houses. This eruption is considered the longest since records have been kept. (Photo By Cezaro De Luca/Europa Press via Getty Images)
Several firefighters access one of the restricted areas of La Palma (Getty)
LA PALMA, CANARY ISLANDS, SPAIN - DECEMBER 27: A firefighter accesses one of the restricted areas of La Palma 'El Pilar', affected by the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano, on 27 December, 2021 on La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain. After 85 days of activity, the eruption of the volcano on La Palma came to an end on 25 December. According to the latest Copernicus calculation, 1,241.1 hectares have been destroyed by lava and 2,988 buildings of all types, of which 1,345 were houses. This eruption is considered the longest since records have been kept. (Photo By Cezaro De Luca/Europa Press via Getty Images)
A firefighter working in the restricted area (Getty)
Spanish military begin clearing volcanic ash from La Palma
Video Player is loading.
Loaded2.75%
Current Time 0:00
Duration 2:19

‘Because now, we can apply ourselves and focus completely on the reconstruction work.’

Fiery molten rock flowing down toward the sea destroyed around 3,000 buildings, entombed banana plantations and vineyards, ruined irrigation systems and cut off roads.

But thankfully, no injuries or deaths were directly linked to the eruption.

Perez, who is also the region’s minister of public administration, justice and security, said the archipelago’s government valued the loss of buildings and infrastructure at more than 900 million euros ($1 billion).

LA PALMA, CANARY ISLANDS, SPAIN - DECEMBER 27: Several firefighters access one of the restricted areas of La Palma 'El Pilar', affected by the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano, on 27 December, 2021 on La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain. After 85 days of activity, the eruption of the volcano on La Palma came to an end on 25 December. According to the latest Copernicus calculation, 1,241.1 hectares have been destroyed by lava and 2,988 buildings of all types, of which 1,345 were houses. This eruption is considered the longest since records have been kept. (Photo By Cezaro De Luca/Europa Press via Getty Images)
According to the latest Copernicus calculation, 1,241.1 hectares have been destroyed by lava (Getty)
LA PALMA, CANARY ISLANDS, SPAIN - DECEMBER 27: Several firefighters access one of the restricted areas of La Palma 'El Pilar', affected by the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano, on 27 December, 2021 on La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain. After 85 days of activity, the eruption of the volcano on La Palma came to an end on 25 December. According to the latest Copernicus calculation, 1,241.1 hectares have been destroyed by lava and 2,988 buildings of all types, of which 1,345 were houses. This eruption is considered the longest since records have been kept. (Photo By Cezaro De Luca/Europa Press via Getty Images)
This eruption is considered the longest since records have been kept. (Getty)
LA PALMA, CANARY ISLANDS, SPAIN - DECEMBER 27: A dog in one of the restricted areas of La Palma 'El Pilar', affected by the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano, on 27 December, 2021 on La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain. After 85 days of activity, the eruption of the volcano on La Palma came to an end on 25 December. According to the latest Copernicus calculation, 1,241.1 hectares have been destroyed by lava and 2,988 buildings of all types, of which 1,345 were houses. This eruption is considered the longest since records have been kept. (Photo By Cezaro De Luca/Europa Press via Getty Images)
A dog wanders through one of the restricted areas (Getty)

Volcanologists said they needed to certify that three key variables – gas, lava and tremors – had subsided in the Cumbre Vieja ridge for 10 days in order to declare the volcano’s apparent exhaustion.

Since the eruption started on September 19, previous periods of reduced activity were followed by reignitions.

On the eve of December 14, the volcano fell silent after flaring for 85 days and 8 hours, making it La Palma’s longest eruption on record.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called the eruption’s end ‘the best Christmas present.’

LA PALMA, CANARY ISLANDS, SPAIN - DECEMBER 27: Several firefighters access one of the restricted areas of La Palma 'El Pilar', affected by the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano, on 27 December, 2021 on La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain. After 85 days of activity, the eruption of the volcano on La Palma came to an end on 25 December. According to the latest Copernicus calculation, 1,241.1 hectares have been destroyed by lava and 2,988 buildings of all types, of which 1,345 were houses. This eruption is considered the longest since records have been kept. (Photo By Cezaro De Luca/Europa Press via Getty Images)
Although the eruption has finished, the emergency is far from over (Getty)
FILE - A fissure is seen next to a house covered with ash on the Canary island of La Palma, Spain, Dec. 1 2021. Authorities on a Spanish island are declaring a volcanic eruption that has caused widespread damage but no casualties officially finished, following ten days of no significant sulfur dioxide emissions, lava flows or seismic activity. But the emergency in La Palma, the northwesternmost of the Atlantic Ocean's Canary Islands, is not over yet, said the director of the archipelago???s volcanic emergency committee, or Pevolca, Julio P??rez. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti, File)
A fissure is seen next to a house covered with ash on the Canary island of La Palma (AP)
LA PALMA, CANARY ISLANDS, SPAIN - DECEMBER 27: Several firefighters access one of the restricted areas of La Palma 'El Pilar', affected by the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano, on 27 December, 2021 on La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain. After 85 days of activity, the eruption of the volcano on La Palma came to an end on 25 December. According to the latest Copernicus calculation, 1,241.1 hectares have been destroyed by lava and 2,988 buildings of all types, of which 1,345 were houses. This eruption is considered the longest since records have been kept. (Photo By Cezaro De Luca/Europa Press via Getty Images)
Several firefighters move access one of the restricted areas of La Palma (Getty)

‘We will continue working together, all institutions, to relaunch the marvelous island of La Palma and repair the damage,’ he tweeted.

Farming and tourism are the main industries on the Canary Islands, a popular destination for many European vacationers due to their mild climate.

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