SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, Nov 28 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The scientists who monitor the eruption of the La Palma volcano have confirmed the opening of several emission centers last morning, around 03:00, in the northeast sector of the cone, with emission of streams in a northwest direction whose fronts advance on land without affectation previous in the Tacande area.
The director of the National Geographic Institute (IGN) in the Canary Islands and spokesperson for the Pevolca Scientific Committee, María José Blanco, reported at a press conference that the opening of these new centers has produced a landslide on the northeast flank of the cone and the new centers a lower level have effusive activity and those located higher, strombolian and phreatomagmatic.
The substitute technical director of Pevolca, Francisco Prieto, added that the laundry is currently running north of the original streams and the forecast is that it will continue to advance attached to the previous casting, although it will be necessary to see if it finally invades new lands or ride on said laundry.
Francisco Prieto indicated that the lava has already crossed the Tacande highway (LP-212) and is quite fluid. Thus, it is expected that either the emission of lava will be paralyzed, as has happened in other emission centers that were opened by the southern part of the cone, or it will mount on the original streams.
On the other hand, yesterday toxic gases were detected both in the upper part of Las Manchas and in Puerto Naos, which prevented both irrigators and workers from entering. During the night these high values have also been detected and the disposition of the volcanic plume towards the SW makes it possible to foresee that access to the evacuated areas will not be allowed today. Yes, the entry of personnel for removal of belongings and commercial activities will be allowed in the lower part of the north zone.
Regarding the number of shelters, there are 528 people in hotel centers, two more than yesterday. Of the total, 427 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 column height measured today was 1,600 meters, with a scattering cloud in a SW direction. The prevalence of the NE wind continues between 0 and 5,000 meters and the cloud of ash and sulfur dioxide is expected to continue towards the W-SW for the next 48-72 hours, a favorable scenario for the operation of La Palma Airport.
The presence of a thermal inversion, together with the intensity of the NE wind, may imply an unfavorable scenario from the point of view of air quality. For the next 48-72 hours the meteorological situation is very similar and there is a probability of weak to locally moderate rainfall on the northern and eastern slopes of La Palma.
Seismicity at intermediate depths, between 10 and 15 km, has increased in the last 24 hours, although it continues to be located in the same areas. At depths greater than 20 km it remains at low levels.
The maximum magnitude reached in the last 24 hours corresponds to a 3.6 mbLg event recorded yesterday at 1:53 p.m. at a depth of 36 km. After several days with low values, the tremor level is increasing from 02.00 hours, reaching a medium level with periods of intensification.
Regarding the deformation, the one observed in the Jedey environment has reverted and in the rest of the network some signs of meteorological origin are observed.
The SO2 emission associated with the volcanic plume measured yesterday reached very high levels, between 30,000 and 49,999 tons per day. Despite this specific record, the data set recorded since September 23 continues to maintain a downward trend, when extremely high values were recorded.
In the case of the diffuse emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) associated with Cumbre Vieja, it continues to register values above the average of the background levels and yesterday the emission was five times the average of these levels.
In the early morning of yesterday to today the air quality due to SO2 registered a significant increase, reaching extremely unfavorable levels in Los Llanos and Tazacorte and unfavorable in El Paso. Regarding PM10 particles, during this morning they remain good and reasonably good in all seasons. In the area of Los Llanos, Tazacorte and El Paso, for risk groups and sensitive populations it is recommended to reduce outdoor activity and consider doing it indoors or postpone it until the air quality is good or reasonably good.
