SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, Nov 30 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Pevolca continues this Tuesday with the monitoring of the lava that moves through the northwest after the appearance of new eruptive foci on the northwest flank of the main cone of the La Palma volcano and that is slowly approaching La Laguna, although it is not expected carry out new evacuations, as the laundry is behaving.
The technical director of Pevolca, Miguel Ángel Morcuende, informed at a press conference that this wash does not move too quickly and throughout the night it has only managed to cover 100 meters. However, it will continue to monitor in case it can finally affect La Laguna. Specifically, the overflow of this wash is approximately one kilometer from the church of La Laguna.
For her part, the director of the National Geographic Institute (IGN) in the Canary Islands and spokesperson for the Pevolca Scientific Committee, María José Blanco, specified that the lavas are mainly occupying surfaces on previous casts. He added that the lava flow continues to be located to the north and slightly overflows the Tajuya area, heading west along with previous lavas. And the one located west of the Todoque mountain continues to occupy previously unaffected land.
On the other hand, María José Blanco highlighted that all the broadcasting centers became inactive at some times yesterday at around 11:00 am. Since then they have had a very intermittent activity. In addition, there have been several landslides inside the crater that has formed in relation to the new eruptive fissure.
Regarding this inactivity of the emission centers, the spokesperson for the Scientific Committee explained that although there are no emissions to the surface, the streams are still fed by lava tubes in their central part, so the emission from the main cone continues, although is not visible. In any case, he pointed out that this does not mean that it cannot be reactivated.
Regarding the number of shelters, there are 537 people in hotel centers, nine more than yesterday. Of the total, 426 are staying at the Fuencaliente hotel, 40 in Breña Baja and 71 in Los Llanos de Aridane. In addition, there are 43 dependent people cared for in insular health centers.
The area affected by lava is 1,134.82 hectares. Likewise, the southern lava delta reaches 43.46 hectares and the northern lava delta, 5.05. The maximum width between runs remains at 3,350 meters.
According to updated data from the Cadastre, the lava has destroyed 1,548 buildings, of which 1,242 are for residential use, 169 for agricultural use, 69 for industrial use, 37 for leisure and hospitality, 15 for public use and 16 for other uses. As for Copernicus, according to data from November 28, there are 2,860 buildings / constructions destroyed, of which 2,748 are destroyed and 112 affected or at risk. Regarding the affected area of crops, it already stands at 348.86 hectares, 8.27 more, of which 217.09 are banana trees, 61.2 are vineyards and 26.48 are avocado trees.
REPORT OF THE SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE.
The eruptive column measured today has been 2,600 meters, with a scattering cloud in a south-southwest direction. Regarding the meteorology, at low levels the northeast wind predominates with gusts that can reach 50-60 km / h in peaks, El Paso and Los Llanos de Aridane, decreasing throughout the afternoon.
From ground level up to 5,000 meters, the wind is from north to northeast, so the ash cloud and sulfur dioxide (SO2) are expected to continue with a dispersion in a south-southwest direction for at least the next 48-72 hours, which is a favorable scenario for the operation of La Palma Airport.
Today there are weak rains, affecting the northern and eastern slopes of the island, which may be more persistent in the northeastern midlands. For tomorrow there is a line of instability approaching the Archipelago that may leave showers on La Palma, mainly in the north, east and central areas of the Island. It is not ruled out that the rainfall may be accompanied by isolated storms. In addition, Saharan dust may enter from Saturday, which can affect air quality.
Seismicity at intermediate depths, between 10 and 15 kilometers, continues to increase in the last 24 hours and is located in the same areas. Seismicity at depths greater than 20 kilometers remains at the same levels. The maximum magnitude reached in the last 24 hours was a 4.2 mbLg earthquake registered today at 10.54 hours, felt with intensity IV on the EMS scale and produced at 13 kilometers. This tremor has been the largest at intermediate depth since the eruption began. The tremor level is at low levels.
Regarding the deformation, some local movement is observed in the vicinity of the eruptive center and some signs of meteorological origin.
The sulfur dioxide associated with the volcanic plume recorded yesterday reached a high level, although the time series of SO2 emissions continues to reflect a downward trend since last September 23. In the case of the diffuse emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) associated with the Cumbre Vieja building, it continues to register stable values since November 15. These values are above the average value of the background levels and yesterday this diffuse emission was of the order of five times the background level.
As for air quality due to SO2, yesterday it worsened throughout the morning, reaching unfavorable maximum levels in Los Llanos, with an hourly limit value exceeded at 3:00 p.m. In Tazacorte and Puntagorda a ‘regular’ level was reached and in the rest of the stations the levels remained ‘good’. Levels improved throughout the afternoon and evening, reaching ‘good’ and ‘reasonably good’ levels. However, the daily limit value was exceeded in Los Llanos and Tazacorte. During the morning of today the values remain in “reasonably good” in Los Llanos and Tazacorte and “good” in the rest.
With regard to PM10 particles, yesterday the levels observed in all the stations remained ‘good’ or ‘reasonably good’. During this morning, an increase in values was only observed in Los Llanos.
