SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, Nov. 3 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Cumbre Vieja volcano, on the island of La Palma, has been registering positive signs for several days, with values of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and tremor downwards. However, scientists warn that these indicators remain high to still be able to speak of the end of the eruption.
Since yesterday at noon, the signal of the volcanic tremor has begun to decline and today Wednesday it still remains at low levels. Likewise, SO2 emissions associated with the volcanic plume yesterday registered a value of 9,600 tons per day, a downward trend that has been repeated for several days.
The national director of Volcanic Surveillance of the National Geographic Institute (IGN) and spokesperson for the Pevolca Scientific Committee, Carmen López, highlighted at a press conference that they are “positive signs” but warned that these downward trends “have to be accentuated” because “the values are still very high”.
Carmen López admitted that we are facing “good signs” but reiterated that the downward trend of SO2 emissions and the tremor has to continue, just as the magnitudes and frequency of earthquakes that have been registered these days have to decrease. “If we follow that path, we will go well,” he said.
Regarding the evolution of the volcanic eruption, in recent hours the levels of visible activity in the cone have stood out, which have been highly variable, with occasional pulses of high lava emission rate. In addition, several emission centers are currently still active, varying as the eruptive zone is modified and reconfigured.
The streams continue to the west, occasionally overflowing some lava tubes and channels in the pre-existing areas. In this sense, there has only been a small evolution of pouring zone 11, which advanced about 150 meters, and contributions or fillings are also taking place on some islands, especially in zone 10, which were not affected by the wash.
The height of the ash scattering cloud, measured today, has reached a value of 2,700 meters.
THE OPERATION OF THE AIRPORT IS RECOVERED.
In relation to meteorological data, at low levels the northeast wind has predominated and at higher levels, from the northwest, so the ash disposal and the sulfur dioxide cloud have been directed towards the south-east and it is expected that is turning towards the south.
As of this afternoon, the meteorological scenario will improve for the operation of La Palma Airport. In fact, the different companies have already been recovering their flights from 3:00 p.m.
Likewise, it is expected that from tomorrow the thermal inversion will rise in altitude and weaken, and also that there will be rainfall that may be locally moderate in the north and east of La Palma.
Seismicity continues to be recorded in the same areas, at depths between 10 and 15 km and greater than 20 km. The maximum magnitude has been 5.0 of an event this morning, at 07:27 hours, which has been located 35 km deep and has been felt with maximum intensity IV-V not only in La Palma, but also in La Gomera and Tenerife. The level of seismicity continues to indicate that more felt earthquakes are possible, even slightly exceeding the maximum intensities recorded so far.
Regarding deformations, the stations closest to the eruptive center continue to show the same stable pattern, and also those further away, which continue to reflect a slight regional deflation.
During yesterday, SO2 emissions associated with the volcanic plume registered a value of 9,600 tons per day. In relation to the carbon dioxide associated with the Cumbre Vieja building, it follows the same upward trend as in previous days and a value of 1,750 tons per day was recorded yesterday.
‘EXTREMELY UNFAVORABLE’ LEVELS.
Air quality due to sulfur dioxide was at ‘unfavorable’ levels only at the Puntagorda station between 07:00 and 09:00, with three values above the average. In the rest of the stations, air quality levels were ‘good’ or ‘reasonably good’ throughout the day yesterday.
Today there have been two exceedances of the alert threshold value in the Fuencaliente station between 07:00 and 08:00 hours and another in Los Llanos at 09:00 hours, which have been reduced in recent hours. In the rest of the stations there are ‘good’ and ‘reasonably good’ levels of air quality, although there is a general upward trend in the values recorded.
Regarding PM10 particles, ‘extremely unfavorable’ levels are maintained at the Los Llanos station. The records of this station have dropped during the early morning to rebound from the early hours of the morning, with a 24-hour moving average maintained at ‘extremely unfavorable’ levels that reflect the incidence of ash fall from the volcano and are influenced by the dynamics eruptive and by the daily winds. In the rest of the stations, air quality levels are ‘good’ and ‘reasonably good’.
The technical director of Pevolca, Rubén Fernández, pointed out that although there has been a progressive improvement in the concentration of ash in the eastern area, the problem continues to exist in the western area, where PM10 particles continue to be quite high. For this reason, the recommendation to use FFP2 masks and stay indoors, especially if you have a weak immune system, is maintained in the Aridane Valley. In the same way, the suspension of face-to-face school activity in Tazacorte, Los Llanos, El Paso, Tijarafe and Puntagorda is maintained during the morning.
In another vein, Rubén Fernández advanced the possibility of adding more Army personnel to the ash cleaning work, especially in infrastructure and buildings, to prevent the risk of collapse. In this sense, he pointed out that the Pevolca has already made this request to the UME. He advanced that next week the UME and the reinforcement personnel will work in the south zone and firefighters and other intervening parties, in the north zone.
The director of Pevolca informed that the LP-211 highway is still open and the Cabildo has begun the works of conditioning of the highway that communicates with Puerto Naos to guarantee the transit of large trucks destined to transport bananas and also to the works that they are made in desalination plants. These refurbishment works will last one or two weeks, when it could already be operational.
HOSTED PEOPLE.
The area affected by the volcanic eruption is estimated at around 981 hectares, 4 more than yesterday, and the width between flows continues at about 3,100 meters. On the other hand, the number of people housed in hotel centers stands at 455, seven less than the previous day. Of these, 388 are staying at the Fuencaliente hotel and 67 in Los Llanos de Aridane. In addition, there are 43 dependent people treated in insular health centers and there is no one in the Fort.
According to the Cadastre, 1,443 buildings have been affected by the eruption. Of these, 1,166 are for residential use, 147 for agricultural use, 69 for industrial use, 33 for leisure and hospitality, 13 for public use and 15 of another type. The latest data from the Copernicus satellite indicates that there are 2,716 constructions / buildings affected, of which 2,574 are totally destroyed and 142 at risk.
Regarding the effects on crops, the surface reaches 283.25 hectares, of which more than half (158.79) are banana trees, followed by vineyards (59.48) and avocado trees (24.02).
