From the Pevolca they warn of the danger of gases and ask not to go to caves, basements or underground parking lots
SANTA CRUZ DE LA PALMA, Dec. 15 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The director of the National Geographic Institute (IGN) in the Canary Islands, María José Blanco, said this Wednesday that according to what was observed on the surface and by the measurement systems, the Cumbre Vieja volcano is going through a “very low phase” and of “exhaustion “although he has given a period of ten days to confirm the completion of the eruption.
At Pevolca’s daily press conference, in which he was accompanied by the director, Miguel Ángel Morcuende, Blanco commented that a rebound in volcanic activity “cannot be ruled out” and pointed out that in order to conclude the eruption, the indicators must continue like this until December 23 or 24.
“There is a possibility of reactivation, if we would not say that it would have concluded, the eruption is in a very low phase and if it lasts for ten days we could say that it is over,” he commented.
Blanco has said that there is no lava flow from the base and in the Las Hoyas delta the pouring has stopped, although he has indicated that they will take a long time to cool down.
He pointed out that it has been more than a day without a volcanic tremor signal and “it cannot go down any further” which has allowed, for example, to detect smaller earthquakes that were previously not located due to noise.
Likewise, seismicity continues at very low levels – somewhat higher at intermediate depths – although it is not ruled out that there are earthquakes felt by the population.
As for the weather forecast, he has pointed out that there will be a haze episode starting this Thursday and that the volcanic plume will be oriented to the southeast, which can make air navigation difficult.
The sulfur dioxide rate is “extremely low” since this Wednesday, Blanco pointed out, while the carbon dioxide emission is nine times higher than the average values, which can be “serious” in poorly ventilated areas or underground. .
Regarding air quality, he has indicated that it is at good levels in all seasons with respect to sulfur dioxide while in relation to PM10 it is at an “unfavorable level” in Los Llanos de Aridane and in the rest of the island at levels. reasonably good.
For this reason, Morcuende has recommended to the inhabitants of Los Llanos de Aridane, Tazacorte, Tijarafe, Puntagorda and El Paso to refrain from going out and doing physical exercise if they have heart or respiratory diseases and to the rest of the people who use FPP2 masks. .
He has not hidden that there is a “possible beginning of the end of the volcano” but it must be said “carefully” and wait about ten days to consolidate the “null activity” of the volcano, while pointing out that the lava flows still have temperatures They are around 400ºC and will take time to cool down.
In fact, he has commented that “it is likely that in a more or less near future” many neighbors will be allowed to return to their homes “although it will not be soon” and for this all the parameters are studied, the main one being gases, which “can be dangerous”, especially due to high levels of carbon monoxide.
ALERT IN THE SOUTH ZONE
Along these lines, he pointed out that “problems” are occurring in people who come to clean their homes in evacuated areas, putting as an example that a person was removed yesterday with dizziness in Puerto Naos.
Thus, he has said that it is important not to enter cave areas, basements or underground parking lots and air out the houses, and if it is done, they must be accompanied by emergency personnel who have gas measurement devices.
Morcuende has placed special emphasis on the southern area of the emergency, in the neighborhoods closest to the cone and the lava tongues that are degassing, such as Las Manchas, Jedey, Las Norias or Puerto Naos, where underground car parks have already been sealed. .
He has pointed out that the affected area, according to IGN data, is 1,198 hectares, which adds up to 1,221 if the cone is taken into account, plus 48 hectares of lava deltas -5 the one to the north- and a width between flows of about 3,350 meters.
As for the sheltered, they are located at 555, four more than this Tuesday, with 399 in the Fuencaliente hotel, 69 in the Los Llanos de Aridane hotel and 87 in the H10 in Breña Baja, to which 43 people are added in centers. socio-sanitary.
