Dramatic La Palma Volcano Drone Videos Show Lava Still Flowing a Month After Eruption Began
Drones have captured dramatic footage showing the vast extent of lava streams flowing out of the Cumbre Vieja volcano on the Spanish island of La Palma.
The volcano began erupting on September 19 after seismologists recorded a series of tremors. Since then, lava flows have caused widespread destruction on La Palma, which is located in the Canary Islands archipelago off the coast of northwest Africa.
The videos were captured by the Cabildo de La Palma—the island's governing body—and the Servicio de Trabajos Aéreos of the Canary Islands over the past three days.
The clips show the wide extent of the damage caused by the lava flows, which now cover an area of more than 789 hectares, according to the European Union's Copernicus satellite program.
Copernicus figures also show that more than 1,800 buildings on the island have been destroyed by lava.
One large stream of lava even reached the Atlantic Ocean on September 29, where new land was created. Another lava flow slightly further to the north is also approaching the sea, satellite imagery shows.
In one of the video clips, fresh, glowing lava can be seen flowing out of Cumbre Vieja, while the erupting volcano spews out material from its cone.
On Sunday, officials said there is no sign that the volcanic eruption will be coming to an end any time soon.
"There are no signs that an end of the eruption is imminent even though this is the greatest desire of everyone," Canary Islands President Angel Víctor Torres said at a Socialist party conference in Valencia, Reuters reported.
"We are at the mercy of the volcano. It's the only one who can decide when this ends," Torres told reporters, according to the Associated Press.
Despite the widespread destruction caused by lava flows, no human injuries or deaths have been reported and much of the island has been unaffected.
But 7,000 people have had to flee their homes on La Palma, which has a population of around 85,000.
Dozens of minor earthquakes have been recorded on the island on most days over the past few weeks, while a plume of ash emanating from the volcano is several miles high.
Airlines have sporadically had to cancel flights to and from the island as a result of the ash. In fact, more than 50 flights were canceled over the weekend, although the airport remains open, according to operator Aena.
