Orange lava flows like a waterfall on rocks and flows from the Spanish Canary island of La Palma into the black Atlantic Ocean. When lava, which can be up to 1000 °C, comes into contact with the ocean near the city of Playa Nueva, large clouds of smoke and white steam rise.
After nine days it started flowing down the mountain and leaving a trail of destruction in its path has now reached the sea. The Spanish Institute of Oceanography tweeted Tuesday night and published impressive photos taken by one of its ships.
Experts now fear the eruption of glowing lava rocks and boiling hot tidal waves. There is also concern that the interaction of lava with seawater could release harmful gases. For this reason, curfew was already imposed in four districts with around 300 residents.
The Canarian Security Authority tweeted: “When you’re out, find a safe place to take refuge.”
The newspaper “La Vanguardia” reported that a 50-meter-high pyramid collapsed after lava and rocks fell into the sea. Prior to this, lava flows near the municipality of Tzacourt fell from a cliff about 100 meters high.
According to the Marine Rescue Service, lava has been flowing into the sea since midnight (CEST). A south wind blows. The Oceanography Institute further tweeted that lava can be seen moving towards the base of the rock.
Volcano Island was declared a disaster area on Tuesday. For the first time in 50 years since the volcano erupted on September 19 at the Cumbre Vieja ridge on the island’s south, lava has been flowing toward the sea on the west coast. So far, about 600 buildings, banana plantations and large greenhouses near the coast have been destroyed by the red-hot mass.
The number of people who had to leave their homes after some residents were allowed back fell to 5,600. The regional government estimated the damage to be several hundred million euros.
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