Eruption of La Palma Volcano Declared Officially Over After Three Months
02:52 GMT 26.12.2021 (Updated: 02:53 GMT 26.12.2021)
© AP Photo / Emilio MorenattiFILE - A fissure is seen next to a house covered with ash on the Canary island of La Palma, Spain, Dec. 1 2021. Authorities on a Spanish island are declaring a volcanic eruption that has caused widespread damage but no casualties officially finished, following ten days of no significant sulfur dioxide emissions, lava flows or seismic activity. But the emergency in La Palma, the northwesternmost of the Atlantic Ocean's Canary Islands, is not over yet, said the director of the archipelago’s volcanic emergency committee, or Pevolca, Julio Pérez.
© AP Photo / Emilio Morenatti
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While the 85-day eruption of the La Palma volcano caused severe and costly destruction on the island, it also saw the size of the island increase, as molten rock leaked out onto the ocean.
Authorities from Spain's Canary Islands have declared the devastating volcanic eruption in La Palma over, some three months after seismic activity consumed the region and caused the destruction of thousands of buildings.
Officials made the final ruling after inspectors reported that the region had gone 10 days without any seismic rumblings.
"What I want to say today can be said with just four words: The eruption is over," Canary Islands regional security chief Julio Perez declared on Saturday, adding that the government's focus now shifts to recovery efforts.
Since the volcano's September 19 eruption, some 3,000 buildings have been destroyed, with hundreds of acres of farmland consumed by lava. Farming and tourism account for the islands main industries.
Although no deaths were directly linked to the eruption, the seismic event did prompt mass evacuations.
"It's not joy or satisfaction - how we can define what we feel? It's an emotional relief. And hope," Perez said. "Because now, we can apply ourselves and focus completely on the reconstruction work."
It's estimated that infrastructure losses amount to roughly $1 billion.
The milestone eruption proved to be the longest on record, after the volcano remained active for approximately 85 days and 8 hours, according to officials. The most recent eruption was recorded on December 13.