SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, Dec. 9 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The La Palma volcano will continue to emit gases even after the eruption is terminated and it stops emitting lava to the surface, according to the director of the National Geographic Institute (IGN) in the Canary Islands and spokesperson for the Pevolca Scientific Committee, María José Blanco.
At the daily press conference after the Pevolca Steering Committee meeting, María José Blanco recalled that in the eruption of the Tagoro volcano, the tremor signal reached very low levels in the second half of February and the eruption occurred It was finished on March 5, but the building continued with degassing months later.
The Scientific Committee spokesperson indicated that this “will also be the case” in the La Palma volcano, which means that after the lava emission ends, degassing will continue not only in the main and secondary cone, but also in washes, which continue to emit gases for a certain time.
Therefore, he stressed that the civil protection measures to be taken will not disappear immediately with the termination of the emission of lava on the surface, as the emergency will last longer, even once the volcanic eruption is terminated.
Regarding the evolution of the eruption, María José Blanco reported that from the effusive focus located to the west of the main cone, the lava flows through a volcanic tube, which has several jameos, from which two streams depart that move west over previous casts. The most active, which converged on the stream that emerged west of the Cogote Mountain (currently inactive), continues on the latter, falling on the lower island in the Las Hoyas area.
Several emission centers are also active in the southeastern zone of the main cone, with sporadic pulses of strombolian activity and ash emission. The cracks and fractures in the upper part of the secondary cone have gradually modified its morphology, producing small landslides towards its interior and adjacent craters.
Regarding the evolution of the flows, the technical director of Pevolca, Miguel Ángel Morcuende, pointed out that most of the energy moves through lava tubes in the direction of the sea, towards the front of the wash 9, where there has been a small widening where it joins with the wash 11. The affected area is 1,184 hectares.
On the other hand, Miguel Ángel Morcuende highlighted that the stagnation of the laundry located in the vicinity of La Laguna (which has not moved for almost five weeks) has allowed the residents of the area between Nicolás Brito País street and the Las Martelas have been able to return to their homes. Likewise, the technical director of Pevolca does not rule out that residents of other emergency areas may also return to their homes.
Regarding the number of shelters, there are 555 people in hotel centers. Of the total, 411 are staying at the Fuencaliente hotel, 75 in Breña Baja and 69 in Los Llanos de Aridane. In addition, there are 43 dependent people cared for in insular health centers.
FAVORABLE SCENARIO FOR THE AIRPORT.
The height of the dispersion cloud measured today has been 1,700 meters, with a SW disposition. Due to the wind, the ash plume and sulfur dioxide (SO2) will be oriented towards the SW of the eruptive focus, which represents a favorable scenario for aeronautical operations.
Likewise, a NE wind is expected with very strong gusts that can reach and exceed 70 km / h, hence yellow level warnings have been issued due to strong winds and adverse coastal phenomena. Late tomorrow, Friday, there will be a probability of haze, which may increase the values of PM10 particles due to the contribution of desert dust.
The tremor level remains low and stable. The number of both intermediate and deep earthquakes remains low. The current level of seismicity continues to indicate that more felt earthquakes are possible, and intensities V-VI can be reached on the EMS scale.
Regarding deformations, there are still no clear trends in the stations near the eruptive center and stable in the rest of the network. In relation to the emission of SO2 associated with the volcanic plume, yesterday a high rate was reached, between 1,000 and 29,999 tons per day. However, the SO2 emission time series continues to show a downward trend. Regarding the emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) associated with the Cumbre Vieja building, it continues to reflect an emission higher than the average value of background levels. Yesterday this emission was five with six times the average of these background levels.
Regarding air quality, during the night of yesterday and the morning of today an increase in sulfur dioxide has been observed in Puntagorda, Los Llanos de Aridane and Tazacorte, reaching regular levels of air quality, while in the rest of the good. With this level of air quality and as a precautionary measure, in the area of Los Llanos, Tazacorte, El Paso, Tijarafe and Puntagorda, risk groups and the sensitive population are recommended to reduce vigorous and prolonged activities outdoors.
