85 Days Later, La Palma’s Volcano Has Officially Stopped Erupting

After about three months of wreak destruction on La Palma with its lava , ash , and quake , in recent years the Cumbre Vieja vent fall silent on the island . Experts formally certified that the eruption was over on Christmas Day . Some medium outlet , and evenSpain ’s President of the United States , say it was thevolcano ’s version of a holiday gift . Yet , it ’s difficult to imagine of anything that has caused such cataclysm as being the giving - giving type .

In reality , Cumbre Vieja ’s activity lay off 10 days ago , igniting feelings of cautious promise among the residents who experienced the volcano’slongest eruptionin 375 years . However , scientist warn that they could not endorse the eruption as being over until volcanic activity discontinue for a full stop of 10 days . At 3 p.m. local time on Saturday , Spain’sNational Geographic Institutegave the prescribed confirmation .

Cumbre Vieja ’s late chapter was written . The irruption , which began on Sept. 19 , had cease on Dec. 13 and go for 85 days and 8 hours .

Aerial view of the Cumbre Vieja volcano, in Tacande, on the Canary Island of La Palma on Dec. 16, 2021.

Aerial view of the Cumbre Vieja volcano, in Tacande, on the Canary Island of La Palma on Dec. 16, 2021.Photo: Jorge Guerrero / AFP (Getty Images)

“ What I want to say today can be said with just four word : The eruption is over , ” say Julio Pérez , the Canary Islands ’ regional security system foreman , agree toReuters .

Nonetheless , the goal of the eruption does n’t necessarily mean the conclusion of some of the danger relate with the issue , the National Geographic Institute said in a statement . Spanish government agency declare that the emergency was n’t over , Spanish dailyEl País report , aim out that there were still lava flows on the island with gamy temperatures and volcanic throttle .

María José Blanco , the director of the National Geographic Institute on the Canary Islands , explain that all index number suggested that Cumbre Vieja had run out of energy butdidn’t rule outa future reactivation .

This aerial picture shows a house covered with lava and ashes following the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano in Las Manchas on the Canary Island of La Palma on Dec. 14, 2021.

This aerial picture shows a house covered with lava and ashes following the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano in Las Manchas on the Canary Island of La Palma on Dec. 14, 2021.Photo: Jorge Guerrero / AFP (Getty Images)

Although the last of the eruption was welcomed by occupant on and off La Palma , it also put the volcano ’s destruction in sharp focus and highlighted the immense recovery effort that is needed . Cumbre Viejacovered about 3,009 acres of land(1,218 hectares ) with lava , 914 acres ( 370 hectare ) of which were crops . The vent destruct 1,676 building and swallow up 45.8 mile ( 73.8 kilometers ) of highways .

Over the last three month , more than 7,000 multitude have been evacuated from the island . Of the evacuee , more than 2,300 have been straight strike by the eruption . About 500 of those affected are living in hotels and do n’t have a home anymore . Meanwhile , other neck of the woods are filledwith people live in motor homes or plastic tents .

It wo n’t materialize tight , Rubén Fernández , interim director of the Canary Islands ’ Volcano Emergency Plan , toldEl País , but the end of the volcanic eruption was the first step .

An excavator removes ashes from a street covered in lava and ashes following the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano in Las Manchas on the Canary Island of La Palma on Dec. 14, 2021.

An excavator removes ashes from a street covered in lava and ashes following the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano in Las Manchas on the Canary Island of La Palma on Dec. 14, 2021.Photo: Jorge Guerrero / AFP (Getty Images)

“ There ’s a lot to do , ” Fernández said .

Geology

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