SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, December 11 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The technical director of Pevolca, Miguel Ángel Morcuende, does not rule out that more people who had to be evacuated in the areas affected by the La Palma volcano may return to their homes, mainly in the north, where there is practically no incidence at the moment of polluting gases that, however, do continue to affect the southern area.
Miguel Ángel Morcuende indicated at a press conference that all the areas that are evacuated and to which they could return are being studied by Pevolca, but insisted that this will depend fundamentally on the emission of gases. He clarified that the flows, especially those located in the southern area, are degassing “enormously”, but in the northern area there are fewer problems, so if there is any opportunity for the evacuees to return to their homes, it would be in this area. area, he noted.
In this case, Morcuende explained that the first thing these people would have to do when returning to their homes is to carry out safe practices, such as ventilating the house, especially if it has remained closed, since some gas may persist, mainly in low areas of the building . Second, they would have to use a lifeline to prevent falls if they are going to clean the covers. And finally, never be alone in order to avoid problems.
Regarding air quality, he pointed out that today the dynamics of previous days have been repeated when registering, at specific moments, high concentrations of gases, especially sulfur dioxide (SO2) and carbon dioxide (CO2), in the areas of restricted access (exclusion or evacuated) to the south, which is why the monitoring of these spaces is maintained permanently by the UME and the teams of the General Directorate of Security and Emergencies of the Government of the Canary Islands.
Regarding the flows, he highlighted that the affected area remains at 1,184 hectares, the lava deltas continue to occupy 48.3 hectares and the maximum width between flows continues to be 3,350 meters. Miguel Ángel Morcuende explained that most of the energy that is being mobilized at this time runs above previous casts and, above all, through the central-south part heading towards casting 9 and the junction of casting 11, which in this moment has no contribution, spilling towards the sea and swelling the southern delta.
Regarding seismicity, the spokesperson for the Scientific Committee, María José Blanco, explained that the one registered at intermediate depths and more than 20 kilometers is still low, although there is the possibility of more intense earthquakes that are felt by the population. In this regard, he pointed out that the maximum magnitude in recent hours has been 3.7 mbLg in an event recorded yesterday at 9:57 p.m., at a depth of 13 kilometers and intensity II-III (EMS scale). The tremor level is at low values with little variability.
Asked once again about when the completion of the eruption will occur, María José Blanco reiterated that while the tremor, which indicates the movement of fluids within a conduit or cavity, and the emission of sulfur dioxide (SO2), which indicates that there is magma close to the surface, “they are not at zero or very close to zero, we will not be able to say that the eruption has ended”, and added that although these parameters are getting lower and lower, there must be a sustained downward trend, not values newspapers.
The emission of sulfur dioxide (SO2) associated with the plume yesterday was high and the time series of the SO2 emission continues to reflect a downward trend since September 23, when an extremely high emission was recorded. In the case of the non-visible emanations of volcanic gases, the diffuse emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) continues to reflect an emission higher than the average value of the background levels (B) and yesterday it was 6.8 times the average of the levels. background (6.8xB). These diffuse fumes do not represent a danger to people.
With regard to particles smaller than 10 microns (PM10), as a consequence of the entry of Saharan air, during the morning all the stations are at reasonably good levels except Las Balsas and La Grama, which are at regular levels. With this air quality index, in Puntagorda, Puntallana, San Andrés y Sauces, Barlovento and Breña Alta it is advisable, for risk groups and sensitive populations, to consider reducing vigorous or prolonged outdoor activities.
Regarding the people housed, 548 continue in hotels, one more than yesterday, of which 397 are staying in Fuencaliente, 69 in Los Llanos de Aridane and 82 in Breña Baja. In addition, there are 43 dependent people cared for in insular health centers. On the other hand, according to data from the Copernicus satellite, there are 3,046 buildings / constructions affected, of which 2,896 are destroyed and 150 at risk or partially damaged.
REPORT OF THE SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE
The fissure eruption continues to show a strombolian mechanism, that is, a mechanism of a mixed nature, with phases of variable explosiveness that produce pyroclastic deposits and effusive phases that simultaneously produce lava flows. The eruptive process shows episodes of increase and decrease in strombolian activity, as well as pulses with phreatomagmatic activity.
From the effusive focus located in the W of the main cone, the lava continues to flow through a volcanic tube, which has several jameos, from which two streams depart that move to the W over previous streams. The most active, which converged on the stream that arose to the W of the Cogote Mountain (currently inactive), continues on the latter, falling on the low island in the Las Hoyas area.
The other emission centers of the main cone are very little active, with very sporadic pulses of strombolian activity and ash emission in the southeastern part and very intense gases.
The cracks and fractures in the upper part of the secondary cone, concentric and radial with respect to the cone, have been modifying the morphology of this cone, generating the sudden movement of some blocks limited by these cracks and producing small landslides towards its interior and adjacent craters. .
The height of the volcanic plume measured today has been 2,000 meters and is disposed towards the W. Regarding the meteorology, prevalence of the NE wind to component E from low levels to about 5,000 meters. The volcanic plume is expected to orient S-SW from the eruptive focus. The expected disposition of the ash cloud represents a favorable scenario for aeronautical operations.
The presence of haze between Sunday and Monday is expected to increase PM10 particle values due to the contribution of desert dust. The situation of atmospheric stability will continue during the next few days until the middle of next week, when the lowering of a cold air pocket at height will produce a significant increase in instability in the Archipelago environment.
Regarding deformations, no trend in the stations near the eruptive center and stability in the rest of the network.
