Spain says Canaries Volcano eruption complete
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The eruption on La Palma island destroyed hundreds of homes and acres of farmland.
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Lava flowing in the Island of La Palma (AFP)
Officials announced Saturday that the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano on the Spanish island of La Palma has officially ended after 3 months.
The island is part of the Canary Islands, which are located off Africa's northwest coast. The volcano has had low-level activity in the last ten days.
No injuries or deaths have been directly related to the eruption, which began on September 19 and sent ash plumes containing poisonous chemicals into the air.
The eruption destroyed 1,345 homes as well as other infrastructure on the western side of the island.
As it made its way to the Atlantic, the slow-moving lava blanketed 1,250 hectares (nearly 3,100 acres) of land, mostly banana fields which, along with tourism, are La Palma's major source of revenue.
The eruption, which was followed by regular earthquakes, is the first on La Palma since 1971 and the longest on record for the 83,000-person island.
Approximately 7,000 people have been evacuated from their homes, with many being given only minutes to gather their possessions.
According to regional officials, the damage from the eruption might surpass 900 million euros ($1.0 billion).
A better future
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited La Palma numerous times during the eruption and has offered to assist in the island's recovery.
During a visit last month he declared that when the lava stops flowing, "all public institutions will continue to strive to repair, restore, and relaunch La Palma to a brighter future."
His administration has so far pledged 225 million euros to help the region recover, including the purchase of temporary accommodation and financial help to those who have lost their employment.
Experts have cautioned that cleaning up the lava-damaged terrain and removing massive amounts of ash from houses and roads will take several years. Throughout the eruption, soldiers from an emergency team have been cleaning ash off rooftops to protect structures from falling.
The volcano will continue to spew hazardous fumes for an extended period of time, posing a threat to the local people. It will also take a long time for the lava to cool to a safe temperature.
Many people have complained that governmental help has been sluggish to arrive, and others are considering leaving the island known as "La Island Bonita" — "The Beautiful Island" — due to its dazzling landscape.
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 single week in the Cumbre Vieja mountain range.
According to the Spanish National Geographical Institute, the earliest report of eruption in La Palma goes back as early as 1430.
