The destruction left by the wake of the bright red lava river on the Spanish island of La Palma is estimated at around 400 million euros.
The volcanic eruption, which began on September 19, engulfed more than 650 homes and businesses and burned at least 270 hectares of farmland.
But since yesterday, a torrent of lava has tumbled into the ocean from a cliff of a hundred meters on the west coast of the island. A channel is open and this is good news as it prevents lava from spreading to other areas and further destruction.
The most important risk for the population, that of the emanations of toxic gases produced by the contact of lava with water, seems for the moment removed thanks to the wind. But it should not change direction.
In the meantime, the lava which rushes down this corridor is gaining ground on the sea. Its accumulation in the water forms a sort of pyramid, reaching about fifty meters high and this mound continues to grow.
According to experts, it is impossible to determine how long the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano will last. But other good news, air links with the island were able to resume yesterday.
No fatalities or serious injuries have so far been reported thanks to the rapid evacuation of more than 6,000 people after weeks of earthquakes.
The two previous eruptions in La Palma took place in 1949 and 1971. They had killed a total of three, two of them by gas inhalation.
Reference-feedproxy.google.com