Canary Islands volcano shuts down La Palma airport amid growing accumulation of ash as new vent opens
Volcanic ash and thick smoke have forced the temporary closure of the airport on the island of La Palma off northwestern Africa, one of Spain’s Canary Islands.
Spanish airport operator Aena tweeted Saturday that the airport was “inoperative” due to the accumulation of ash.
“Cleaning tasks have started, but the situation may change at any time,” Aena wrote.
Other airports in the Canary Islands are still operating, although some airlines have suspended flights.
The eruption of the volcano in Cumbre Vieja National Park, which began Sept. 19, has intensified in recent days, forcing nearly 7,000 people to abandon their homes.
The Canary Islands Volcanology Institute said another vent opened early Saturday, exposing residents to even more catastrophic circumstances.
Emergency crews were forced to pull back from the area on Friday “due to the intensification of explosive phenomena,” officials said according to the BBC.
Drones operated by Spain’s National Geographical and Mining Institute showed that the volcano’s cone had broken.
“It is not unusual in this type of eruption that the cone of the volcano fractures. A crater is formed that does not support its own weight and ... the cone breaks,” Miguel Ángel Morcuende, head of the Canary Island Volcanic Emergency Plan, said during a news conference on Saturday.
“This partial rupture happened overnight,” he added.
Lava has been heading toward the sea since the volcano started spewing — but by Saturday, its movement had slowed.
“I don’t dare to tell you when it’s going to get there, nor do I dare to make a forecast,” Morcuende told reporters.
The volcanic eruption in La Palma, home to 85,000 people, is the first since 1971.
Wind is carrying ash from the volcano to other parts of the island, which at 274 square miles is a bit smaller than New York City’s land area.
The local government has urged residents in the affected areas to avoid going outside and only do so wearing masks and goggles.
No deaths associated with the eruption have been reported.
It’s unclear how long the eruption will last. A spokesperson for Spain’s National Geographic Institute told the BBC that past eruptions on the island have lasted between 24 and 84 days.
With News Wire Services
