Cumbre Vieja Volcanic Eruption
The 2021 Cumbre Vieja eruption began September 2021 at the Cumbre Vieja volcano on the Spanish island of La Palma, one of the Canary Islands. An earthquake swarm started on September 11th before the eruption started on September 19th. It is the first volcanic eruption on the island since the eruption of Teneguía in 1971.
The eruption has caused the evacuation of around 7,000 people, and the lava flow has covered over 670 hectares. The lava flow is about a kilometre (0.6 mile) wide and has reached the sea, destroying more than 1,100 buildings, cutting the coastal highway and forming a new peninsula. The town of Todoque was completely destroyed by lava, which has now reached La Laguna (a town within the municipality of Los Llanos de Aridane).
When the eruption started and was purely effusive, it had a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 0. With the ashfall that began a week later, the VEI rose to 2.
Latest Cumbre Vieja Volcanic Eruption Updates
The team has safely arrived in La Palma and has begun the ground assessment. Stationed in El Puesto de Mando Avanzada, they have already started meeting with the government emergency coordination entity CECOPIN to gain a better understanding of the needs in the community. The team is very closely monitoring the health, safety and security of the situation as there continues to be volcanic activity and somewhat regular seismic activity.
For over two months, the Cumbre Vieja Volcano has been erupting in the Canary Islands and there are no signs of it slowing down. All Hands and Hearts has decided to send in a Disaster Assessment Response Team (DART) to assess the situation and identify if there are ways in which All Hands and Hearts can provide assistance to the communities.
The Cumbre Vieja Volcano continues to erupt on the Island of La Palma in Spain, with a recent uptick in seismic activity. Our International Response team continues to monitor and pursue outreach with the local government.
Cumbre Vieja Volcano has been erupting for over a month now in the Canary Islands that has forced 7,000 people out of their homes and destroyed 2,000 buildings. While we are paying close attention to the disaster’s impact and gathering information, we currently see a need for ash removal and other potential response work in the area. We will continue to monitor and provide a plan of action if our assessments call for it.
We use information from reputable sources like the National Hurricane Center to make informed decisions regarding our responses to storms around the world.
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