SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 26 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The reopening yesterday afternoon of an eruptive focus on the eastern flank of the main cone of the La Palma volcano has led to the advance of wash 10 on the Las Manchas cemetery and the solar panel field, also destroying many buildings, especially single-family homes, and finally reaching laundry 11.
The technical director of Pevolca, Miguel Ángel Morcuende, reported at a press conference that the rest of the lava advances on previous flows, forking into two areas: one towards flows 4, 5 and 7, located between the mountains of Todoque and La Laguna. , and the other towards wash 9, which could overflow towards the south and affect other locations, although at the moment it is “quite stopped”.
The director of the National Geographic Institute (IGN) in the Canary Islands and spokesperson for the Scientific Committee, María José Blanco, added that this new fissure that opened yesterday afternoon, with several points of lava emission, today has no visible activity, if a surveillance will be carried out from the ground and through the use of drones to see if there is a reactivation.
On the other hand, in terms of seismicity, the Pevolca technical director indicated that it is located in the same areas, the deep continues registering low values and there is a marked decrease in the medium term of the intermediate. Likewise, the amplitude of the tremor remains at low values, although with rises in high values.
The emission of sulfur dioxide (SO2) continues to register high values but the downward trend has been maintained since last September 23, when the maximum levels were registered. In addition, the deformations are “absolutely stabilized” in all stations and tomorrow, Saturday, a favorable scenario is expected for aeronautical operations.
Regarding the number of sheltered, there are 513 people in hotel centers. Of the total, 412 are staying at the Fuencaliente hotel, 31 in Breña Baja and 70 in Los Llanos de Aridane. In addition, there are 43 dependent people cared for in insular health centers.
The affected area so far reaches a total of 1,092 hectares. Likewise, the area of the southern lava delta stands at 48.03 hectares and that of the northern lava delta, at 5.05 hectares. The maximum width between external casts remains at 3,350 meters.
Miguel Ángel Morcuende also reported that a study of the drainage network and hydrological basin of the Aridane Valley is being carried out to know what direction the rainwater is going to take and, above all, to know what hydrological works will have to be execute in order to minimize possible damage. For this study we are working with the Official College of Civil Engineers, the National Geographic Institute, the Geological and Mining Institute of Spain and the Cabildo de La Palma.
Regarding the damage to infrastructures, the Cadastre data indicate that 1,506 buildings have been destroyed, of which 1,212 are for residential use, 161 for agricultural use, 67 for industrial use, 36 for leisure and hospitality, 13 for public use and 16 from other uses. On the other hand, the Copernicus data put the buildings / constructions destroyed at 2,789.
In relation to essential services, the improvement of the road being built to access Puerto Naos and other neighborhoods continues. At the moment they are in the earthmoving phase, but today the works have had to be suspended due to the forecast of heavy rainfall. Work has also continued to clean up ash on the LP-2, LP-212, LP-215 and LP-213 highways, and the clean-up work is being intensified in urban areas.
Finally, Miguel Ángel Morcuende reported that last night, around 11:00 p.m., lightning left the La Jurona transformation center and the Hoy Verdugo urbanization without service, although the supply was restored a few minutes later.
