PELE BUILDS GAIA AN ISLAND
Lava from Canaries eruption covers huge area at seaIssued on: 30/09/2021 -
The lava flow from the Cumbre Vieja volcano pours into the Atlantic Ocean
Sunsets Sweden AFP
Isla de La Palma (España) (AFP)
Lava from the erupting volcano on La Palma in the Canary Islands that began cascading into the ocean 36 hours ago has already covered more than 25 acres at sea, experts said Thursday.
Since it began on September 19, the dramatic eruption has forced thousands out of their homes, while lava has destroyed hundreds of houses, businesses and huge swathes of banana plantations.
The volcano spewed out rivers of lava that slowly crept towards the sea, eventually pouring into the Atlantic Ocean late on Tuesday in a flow which has not stopped.
"Estimates suggest it has already covered more than 10 hectares (25 acres)" at sea, David Calvo of the Canaries' volcanology institute Involcan told AFP, saying experts would carry out a more accurate assessment with drones in the coming hours.
Since then, the rivers of molten rock have not stopped cascading into the sea, creating a growing lava delta in what Calvo described as "a phase of stability".
"The lava is continuing to flow like a waterfall and a lava delta is forming at the base of the cliff, extending southwards," the Pevolca volcanic emergency committee said late Wednesday.
As the white-hot lava poured into the sea, it sent plumes of acid fumes into the air that experts said could irritate the skin BURN IT MORE LIKE
Isla de La Palma (España) (AFP)
Lava from the erupting volcano on La Palma in the Canary Islands that began cascading into the ocean 36 hours ago has already covered more than 25 acres at sea, experts said Thursday.
Since it began on September 19, the dramatic eruption has forced thousands out of their homes, while lava has destroyed hundreds of houses, businesses and huge swathes of banana plantations.
The volcano spewed out rivers of lava that slowly crept towards the sea, eventually pouring into the Atlantic Ocean late on Tuesday in a flow which has not stopped.
"Estimates suggest it has already covered more than 10 hectares (25 acres)" at sea, David Calvo of the Canaries' volcanology institute Involcan told AFP, saying experts would carry out a more accurate assessment with drones in the coming hours.
Since then, the rivers of molten rock have not stopped cascading into the sea, creating a growing lava delta in what Calvo described as "a phase of stability".
"The lava is continuing to flow like a waterfall and a lava delta is forming at the base of the cliff, extending southwards," the Pevolca volcanic emergency committee said late Wednesday.
As the white-hot lava poured into the sea, it sent plumes of acid fumes into the air that experts said could irritate the skin BURN IT MORE LIKE
Sunsets Sweden AFP
As the white-hot lava poured into the sea, it sent plumes of acid fumes into the air that experts said could irritate the skin, eyes and respiratory tracts, possibly causing breathing difficulties.
But fears it could affect the local population were quickly allayed as strong winds dispersed the vapours over the sea.
A spokesman for Spain's AEMET weather service on Thursday said the wind would continue to disperse the gases.
As the white-hot lava poured into the sea, it sent plumes of acid fumes into the air that experts said could irritate the skin, eyes and respiratory tracts, possibly causing breathing difficulties.
But fears it could affect the local population were quickly allayed as strong winds dispersed the vapours over the sea.
A spokesman for Spain's AEMET weather service on Thursday said the wind would continue to disperse the gases.
A map locating where lava from the Cumbre Vieja volcano has reached the sea on the Canary Island of La Palma Tupac
POINTU AFP
There will be "strong northeasterly winds on Thursday and Friday... that will disperse the volcanic emissions towards the sea," Ruben del Campo told AFP.
"So there will be no problem with air quality in populated areas, except in those closest to the eruption point."
- Disaster zone -
Even so, some 300 residents in the nearby town of Tazacorte have been told to stay at home to avoid any chance of inhaling the gases and a 3.5-kilometre (two-mile) exclusion zone remained in place, which also extends two nautical miles out to sea.
"Until we know that these areas are not at risk, these measures will be maintained," Pevolca's Ruben Fernandez said on Wednesday evening.
La Palma has been declared a natural disaster zone, with the lava scorching its way across 476 hectares (1,176 acres) of land, the local government said on Twitter.
It has so far destroyed 855 buildings, an increase of more than 200 in just over 24 hours, the EU's Copernicus observation programme said on Twitter.
The eruption of La Cumbre Vieja has forced some 6,000 people to flee their homes but so far, nobody has been injured or killed.
La Cumbre Vieja lies about 15 kilometres (nine miles) west of the airport as the crow flies, although the lava has only spilt down the western side of the volcano.
© 2021 AFP
There will be "strong northeasterly winds on Thursday and Friday... that will disperse the volcanic emissions towards the sea," Ruben del Campo told AFP.
"So there will be no problem with air quality in populated areas, except in those closest to the eruption point."
- Disaster zone -
Even so, some 300 residents in the nearby town of Tazacorte have been told to stay at home to avoid any chance of inhaling the gases and a 3.5-kilometre (two-mile) exclusion zone remained in place, which also extends two nautical miles out to sea.
"Until we know that these areas are not at risk, these measures will be maintained," Pevolca's Ruben Fernandez said on Wednesday evening.
La Palma has been declared a natural disaster zone, with the lava scorching its way across 476 hectares (1,176 acres) of land, the local government said on Twitter.
It has so far destroyed 855 buildings, an increase of more than 200 in just over 24 hours, the EU's Copernicus observation programme said on Twitter.
The eruption of La Cumbre Vieja has forced some 6,000 people to flee their homes but so far, nobody has been injured or killed.
La Cumbre Vieja lies about 15 kilometres (nine miles) west of the airport as the crow flies, although the lava has only spilt down the western side of the volcano.
© 2021 AFP
Volcano on Big Island of Hawaii began erupting quickly, scientists say
Officials said Kilauea volcano began erupting at 3:20 p.m.
Officials said Kilauea volcano began erupting at 3:20 p.m.
Sept. 30 (UPI) -- A volcano on Hawaii's Big Island started erupting on Wednesday afternoon, officials said.
The U.S. Geological Survey said in an advisory that Kilauea volcano began erupting at 3:20 p.m., when officials with the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory detected a glow in Halemaumau crater in the summit of Kilauea, indicating an eruption was in progress.
"Webcam imagery shows fissures at the base of Halemaumaua crater generating lava flows on the surface of the lava lake that was active until May 2021," the advisory said.
The volcano sits within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Island of Hawaii.
Officials said the primary issue for safety is the high levels of volcanic gas emitting from the mountain, which could "have far-reaching effects down-wind."
The eruption follows the USGS HVO observing increased earthquake activity and changes in the pattern of ground deformation at the mountain's summit.
"Lava is basically flooding the bottom of Halemaumaua at this time but there is no real high fountaining that can be seen outside of the caldera," Hon said.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park said thousands of people have descended on the park to watch the eruption.
"Viewing lava at the summit of Kilauea is awe-inspiring. During this COVID-19 pandemic, we ask the public to recreate responsibly, maintain social distance and to wear a mask," Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Superintendent Rhonda Loh said in a statement.
The USGS HVO has elevated the alert level for Kilauea from Watch, meaning the volcano is exhibiting heightened unrest with increased potential of eruption, to Warning as a hazardous eruption is underway.
Officials also lifted its aviation color code from Orange to Red.
The eruption comes four months after the previous eruption at Kilauea, which began in December, ended in May.
In May 2018, thousands of residents in the Puna community of Hawaii Island were urged to evacuate due to a Kilauea eruption.
The U.S. Geological Survey said in an advisory that Kilauea volcano began erupting at 3:20 p.m., when officials with the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory detected a glow in Halemaumau crater in the summit of Kilauea, indicating an eruption was in progress.
"Webcam imagery shows fissures at the base of Halemaumaua crater generating lava flows on the surface of the lava lake that was active until May 2021," the advisory said.
The volcano sits within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Island of Hawaii.
Officials said the primary issue for safety is the high levels of volcanic gas emitting from the mountain, which could "have far-reaching effects down-wind."
The eruption follows the USGS HVO observing increased earthquake activity and changes in the pattern of ground deformation at the mountain's summit.
"Lava is basically flooding the bottom of Halemaumaua at this time but there is no real high fountaining that can be seen outside of the caldera," Hon said.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park said thousands of people have descended on the park to watch the eruption.
"Viewing lava at the summit of Kilauea is awe-inspiring. During this COVID-19 pandemic, we ask the public to recreate responsibly, maintain social distance and to wear a mask," Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Superintendent Rhonda Loh said in a statement.
The USGS HVO has elevated the alert level for Kilauea from Watch, meaning the volcano is exhibiting heightened unrest with increased potential of eruption, to Warning as a hazardous eruption is underway.
Officials also lifted its aviation color code from Orange to Red.
The eruption comes four months after the previous eruption at Kilauea, which began in December, ended in May.
In May 2018, thousands of residents in the Puna community of Hawaii Island were urged to evacuate due to a Kilauea eruption.
Photo courtesy of USGS Volcanoes/Twitter
Officials said Kilauea volcano began erupting at 3:20 p.m. Wednesday.
Officials said Kilauea volcano began erupting at 3:20 p.m. Wednesday.
Photo courtesy of USGS Volcanos/
Lava from La Palma eruption finally reaches the Atlantic
LOS LLANOS DE ARIDANE, Canary Islands (AP) — A bright red river of lava from the volcano on Spain’s La Palma island finally tumbled over a cliff and into the Atlantic Ocean, setting off huge plumes of steam and possibly toxic gases that forced local residents outside the evacuation zone to remain indoors on Wednesday.
“We hope that the channel to the sea that has opened stops the lava flow, which widened to reach 600 meters (2,000 feet) at one point, from continuing to grow, because that has caused tremendous damage,” Ángel Víctor Torres, president of the Canary Islands regional government, told Cope radio.
Torres said his government is working to house those who have lost their dwellings. Authorities have plans to purchase over 100 currently unoccupied homes. Torres cited one village, Todoque, home to 1,400 people, which was wiped out.
La Palma, home to about 85,000 people, is part of the volcanic Canary Islands, an archipelago off northwest Africa. The island is roughly 35 kilometers (22 miles) long and 20 kilometers (12 miles) wide at its broadest point.
Cleaning crews swept up ash in the island’s capital, Santa Cruz, while more small earthquakes that have rumbled under the volcano for weeks were registered by geologists.
Favorable weather conditions allowed the first flight in five days to land at airport on La Palma, an important tourist destination along with its neighboring Canary islands, despite a huge ash cloud that Spain’s National Geographic Institute said reached up to seven kilometers (nearly 4 1/2 miles) high.
Laura Garcés, the director of Spain's air navigation authority ENAIRE, said she doesn't foresee any major problems for other airports on the archipelago because of the ash.
While the red tongue of lava lolled off the coast, the two open vents of the volcano continued to belch up more magma from below.
Experts say it's impossible too early to determine how long the eruption will last. Previous eruptions in the archipelago have lasted weeks, even months.
“We don’t know when this will be over,” volcano scientist Stavros Meletlidis of Spain’s National Geographic Institute told state broadcaster TVE. “Volcanos are not friends of statistics.”
___ Joseph Wilson reported from Barcelona, Spain.
Daniel Roca And Joseph Wilson, The Associated Press
LOS LLANOS DE ARIDANE, Canary Islands (AP) — A bright red river of lava from the volcano on Spain’s La Palma island finally tumbled over a cliff and into the Atlantic Ocean, setting off huge plumes of steam and possibly toxic gases that forced local residents outside the evacuation zone to remain indoors on Wednesday.
Provided by The Canadian Press
The immediate area had been evacuated for several days as authorities waited for the lava that began erupting Sept. 19 to traverse the 6 1/2 kilometers (four miles) to the island's edge. On the way down from the Cumbre Vieja volcanic ridge, the lava flows have engulfed at least 656 buildings, mostly homes and farm buildings, in its unstoppable march to the sea.
The meeting of molten rock and sea water finally came at 11 p.m. on Tuesday. By daybreak, a widening promontory of newborn land could be seen forming under plumes of steam rising high into the area.
Even though initial air quality reading showed no danger in the area, experts had warned that the arrival of the lava at the ocean would likely produce small explosions and release toxic gases that could damage lungs. Authorities established a security perimeter of 3 1/2 kilometers (about two miles) and asked residents in the wider area to remain indoors with windows shut to avoid breathing in any gases.
No deaths or serious injuries have been reported from the island’s first eruption in 50 years, thanks to the prompt evacuations of over 6,000 people after the ground cracked open following weeks of tremors.
The flattening of the terrain as it approached the coast had slowed down the flow of the lava, causing it to widen out and do more damage to villages and farms. The local economy is largely based on agriculture, above all the cultivation of the Canary plantain.
Just before it poured down a cliff into the sea at a local point known as Los Guirres, the lava rolled over the coastal highway, cutting off the last road in the area that connects the island to several villages.
The immediate area had been evacuated for several days as authorities waited for the lava that began erupting Sept. 19 to traverse the 6 1/2 kilometers (four miles) to the island's edge. On the way down from the Cumbre Vieja volcanic ridge, the lava flows have engulfed at least 656 buildings, mostly homes and farm buildings, in its unstoppable march to the sea.
The meeting of molten rock and sea water finally came at 11 p.m. on Tuesday. By daybreak, a widening promontory of newborn land could be seen forming under plumes of steam rising high into the area.
Even though initial air quality reading showed no danger in the area, experts had warned that the arrival of the lava at the ocean would likely produce small explosions and release toxic gases that could damage lungs. Authorities established a security perimeter of 3 1/2 kilometers (about two miles) and asked residents in the wider area to remain indoors with windows shut to avoid breathing in any gases.
No deaths or serious injuries have been reported from the island’s first eruption in 50 years, thanks to the prompt evacuations of over 6,000 people after the ground cracked open following weeks of tremors.
The flattening of the terrain as it approached the coast had slowed down the flow of the lava, causing it to widen out and do more damage to villages and farms. The local economy is largely based on agriculture, above all the cultivation of the Canary plantain.
Just before it poured down a cliff into the sea at a local point known as Los Guirres, the lava rolled over the coastal highway, cutting off the last road in the area that connects the island to several villages.
“We hope that the channel to the sea that has opened stops the lava flow, which widened to reach 600 meters (2,000 feet) at one point, from continuing to grow, because that has caused tremendous damage,” Ángel Víctor Torres, president of the Canary Islands regional government, told Cope radio.
Torres said his government is working to house those who have lost their dwellings. Authorities have plans to purchase over 100 currently unoccupied homes. Torres cited one village, Todoque, home to 1,400 people, which was wiped out.
La Palma, home to about 85,000 people, is part of the volcanic Canary Islands, an archipelago off northwest Africa. The island is roughly 35 kilometers (22 miles) long and 20 kilometers (12 miles) wide at its broadest point.
Cleaning crews swept up ash in the island’s capital, Santa Cruz, while more small earthquakes that have rumbled under the volcano for weeks were registered by geologists.
Favorable weather conditions allowed the first flight in five days to land at airport on La Palma, an important tourist destination along with its neighboring Canary islands, despite a huge ash cloud that Spain’s National Geographic Institute said reached up to seven kilometers (nearly 4 1/2 miles) high.
Laura Garcés, the director of Spain's air navigation authority ENAIRE, said she doesn't foresee any major problems for other airports on the archipelago because of the ash.
While the red tongue of lava lolled off the coast, the two open vents of the volcano continued to belch up more magma from below.
Experts say it's impossible too early to determine how long the eruption will last. Previous eruptions in the archipelago have lasted weeks, even months.
“We don’t know when this will be over,” volcano scientist Stavros Meletlidis of Spain’s National Geographic Institute told state broadcaster TVE. “Volcanos are not friends of statistics.”
___ Joseph Wilson reported from Barcelona, Spain.
Daniel Roca And Joseph Wilson, The Associated Press
No comments:
Post a Comment