River of lava from La Palma eruption reaches the Atlantic
LOS LLANOS DE ARIDANE, Canary Islands — 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 Wednesday.
The immediate area had been evacuated for several days as authorities waited for the lava that began erupting Sept. 19 to traverse the 4 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, in its unstoppable march to the sea.
The meeting of molten rock and sea water finally came at 11 p.m. Tuesday.
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 about 2 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.
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 2,000 feet at one point, from continuing to grow, because that has caused tremendous damage,” Angel Victor Torres, president of the Canary Islands regional government, told Cope radio.
Torres said his government is working to house the displaced. 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 off northwest Africa.
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 allowed the first flight in five days to land at airport on La Palma, an important tourist destination despite a huge ash cloud that Spain’s National Geographic Institute said reached up to more than 4 miles high.
Meanwhile, two open vents of the volcano continued to belch up more magma. Experts say it’s impossible to know how long the eruption will last. Previous eruptions have lasted weeks, even months.