SANTA CRUZ DE LA PALMA, Dec. 17 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The director of the National Geographic Institute (IGN) and spokesperson for the Pevolca scientific committee, María José Blanco, admitted this Friday that the volcanic eruption in Cumbre “is stopped” but has asked to wait another eight days to confirm the exhaustion of the volcano that show all indicators.
In a press conference in which she was accompanied by the director of Pevolca, Miguel Ángel Morcuende, she pointed out that it is not known to science whether it is “over” because there is always room for a reactivation of strombolian activity and the emission of casts.
He has said that the emission of gases is sporadic and associated with the eruptive centers and the jameos of the volcanic tubes, while the small landslides in the main cone are maintained.
In addition, he has commented that the volcanic tremor continues at background noise levels and seismicity remains at the same level while the emission of sulfur dioxide was average this Thursday due to solidification of the lava, but continues the downward trend.
He has commented that the CO2 emission could not be carried out for technical reasons but he has once again warned of health risks in poorly ventilated areas or one meter below the ground.
Regarding air quality, it has indicated that it has gone from unfavorable to extremely unfavorable in Los Llanos de Aridane in relation to PM10 particles and it is good in the rest of the stations, the same is happening with regard to sulfur dioxide.
For this reason, it urges the population not to engage in outdoor activities, especially those who have cough or respiratory distress, or have heart or lung diseases.
“STABLE AND QUIET DAY”
Morcuende has affirmed that he has lived a “stable and calm day” although he has clarified that in many areas there is still a sensation of heat because energy continues to be released.
He has also pointed out that the “problems” with heavier gases such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide remain in the southern zone of the eruption, which accumulate in low-lying areas such as warehouses or underground parking lots. that he has asked people who visit his properties for caution and to be accompanied at those points by UME personnel who measure gases.
Regarding the sheltered, he has indicated that there are 557, three more than this Thursday, with 391 in the Fuencaliente hotel, 73 in the Los Llanos de Aridane hotel and 93 in the H10 de Breña Baja, plus 43 dependents staying in social health centers.