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Volcano Eruption on La Palma Island Forces Airport To Close

Authorities on the Spanish La Palma Island reported that volcanic explosions have intensified, forcing the local airport to close.

Last Sunday, the Cumbre Viaje volcano started erupting, destroying at least 350 homes. Thousands of residents were ordered to evacuate, the government said.

Fortunately, no deaths have resulted from the explosive phenomena.

On Saturday, authorities said a thick smoke plume had spread four kilometers (2.4 miles) into the air, adding that thick ash clouds had made flying out of the airport impossible.

Consequently, La Palma International Airport was closed, preventing some people from leaving its facilities, where many tourist flights and connections to neighboring islands are usually handled.

When flights were canceled, long queues formed at the terminal, and some travelers reportedly tried to get ferries off the island.

According to airport operators, the ash accumulation has caused the airport to remain “inoperative.” However, workers began clean-up operations, sweeping volcanic ash from the runway.

On Friday, firefighters withdrew from the area “due to the intensification of explosive phenomena,” local media reported. Authorities ordered about 1,000 people in Tajuya, Tacande de Abajo and Tacande de Arriba to evacuate their residences, citing the same reasons.

Evacuations currently in force would be maintained for another 24 hours as a precautionary measure, Miguel Angel Morcuende, director of volcano response committee Pevolca, told the media yesterday.

Meanwhile, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced that the cabinet would declare the island a “catastrophe zone” next week.

Moreover, the Canary Islands’ government said it would start granting the first round of economic aid to people who have lost their homes due to the intensifying volcanic activity.

The Cumbre Vieja volcano is located south of La Palma Island, where around 80,000 people live.

It last erupted five decades ago, in 1971. However, experts explained that the volcano was entering a new explosive phase and was spewing lava from a freshly opened vent.

The Canary Islands Volcanology Institute, Involcan, stated that the new emission vent was west of the primary vent.

“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. This partial rupture happened overnight,” Mr. Morcuende explained.

Specialists in the field are not sure how long the eruption will last. According to a spokesperson for Spain’s National Geographic Institute, past volcanic explosions on the La Palma lasted 24-84 days.