A Volcanic Eruption Shakes La Palma, Spain
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While there haven't been any reports of casualties, the volcano eruption reportedly has caused fissures on hillsides and destruction of roads.
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Thankfully, there haven't been any casualties.
On the Spanish island of La Palma in the Canary Islands, a volcano reportedly erupted on 3:15 GMT, shooting spears of lava in the sky and spreading plumes of smoke.
Before the explosion, the Spanish authorities evacuated farm animals in surrounding villages and vicinities. According to the islands' government, the animals were evacuated on a wooded slope.
Two hours later, a mandatory evacuation sounded for the four villages within the volcano's danger zone, including El Paso and Los Llanos de Aridane. Residents were ordered to minimize their mobile phone use as soldiers were deployed for service.
"In no circumstances go near the lava flow," the municipality issued warnings for the residents. "If there is volcanic ash, stay in your houses."
According to Stavros Meletlidis, a doctor of volcanology at the Spanish Geographical Institute, the volcanic eruption has caused the opening of five crevices on the hillside - however, how long they may last is undetermined.
The president of the Canary Islands, Angel Victor Torres, thankfully said that there haven't been any reports for injuries. However, a number of roads have collapsed due to the excessive heat of the lava.
The lava flow has destroyed first buildings in La Palma. pic.twitter.com/u7GhyksC4G
— WorldOnAlert (@worldonalert) September 19, 2021
La Palma is known to be one of the most high-alert volcanic regions on the Canary Islands - 22,000 tremors were observed in a week in Cumbre Vieja, a mountain range in La Palma.
According to the Spanish National Geographical Institute, the earliest report of eruption in La Palma goes back as early as 1430.
