The Director of the Special Civil Protection Plan and Emergency Care for Volcanic Risk of the Canary Islands (Pevolca) gathered this morning, based on the report of the previous Scientific Committee, maintain the exclusion and confinement areas of the coastal neighborhoods of Tazacorte andIntensify the surveillance of air quality, among other protection measures, to guarantee the health and safety of the population and the intervening troops.
The technical director of the Pevolca during yesterday and today, Rubén Fernández, announced that La ColadSome overflow points, so it is necessary to continue with access restrictions, except for emergency services and scientific staff, with the aim of ensuring people's safety.
As for the emission of gases, he indicated that some measurements in Tazacorte have given in specific moments of sulfur dioxide that exceed the thresholds collected in the air quality regulations, so the Pevolca reiterates the population that uses FFP2 masks, remain indoors and pay greater attention to the vulnerable population such as children, elderly, pregnant women and people with chronic respiratory diseases.In this regard, María José Blanco explained that the weak winds provided for in the west aspect will be unfavorable weather conditions from the point of view of air quality, since this weekend a thermal investment phenomenon that will not allow will not allowthe dispersion of particles.
Today the entrance to the community of irrigators and holders of farms located between the bulb and the rowing to perform irrigation work has been allowed.These tasks to northern mountain La Laguna have also been carried out, where collection works have also been authorized, which will run tomorrow, if the conditions allow it, to the area located between the bulb and the rowing.
Also, today only the access of some neighbors to their homes for very specific and urgent issues has been authorized, as well as to feed the animals with a security convoy, and always outside the exclusion area.From the Pevolca, a constant monitoring of the parameters such as air quality, explosiveness and pyroclasts, among others, are continued.
Rubén Fernández said that according to the latest data from the copernicus satellite, there would be a total of 981 affected constructions, of which 855 would be completely damaged, although he recalled that these data have to be contrasted with the cadastre and the municipalities and make a detailed analysisof the type of building.On the shelters, he pointed out that 186 people remain at the Hotel de Fuencaliente, with the support of the Spanish Red Cross.Rubén Fernández stressed the importance of not relaxing sanitary measures with respect to COVID-19, that is, maintain the security distance and reinforce the use of masks.
The technical director of Pevolca thanked, in the name of the Cabildo de la Palma and the affected municipalities, the solidarity samples of the people who have donated clothing or other belongings.In this regard, he pointed out that these needs are already covered and said that collaboration can continue to be carried out with donations through the accounts enabled by the Cabildo, the municipalities and other official entities.
Daily Opinion of the Scientific Committee
Prior to the meeting of the Pevolca Director Committee, the scientific committee of the Plan in which its members presented their conclusions about the evolution of the eruptive phenomenon since yesterday.This Scientific Committee is coordinated by the General Directorate of Security and Emergencies of the Government of the Canary Islands and is made upof Spain (IGME), State Meteorology Agency (AEMET), Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO), University of La Laguna and University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Such conclusions were: “The fissural eruption continues to show Strombolian mechanism with an effusive prevalence for two days at the North Flanco emission center.The laundry that reached the sea maintains a continuous flow towards the sea in the form of a waterfall.At the base of the cliff, a lava delta is being formed with a large front that has reached the level of 24 m in depth on the surface.In the contact area, clouds of water vapor and other possibly toxic gases are being produced, which are concentrated in a small area around the contact (marine plume).
Along the fronts of this active casting that has reached the sea, significant advances can occur.Although the active casting has reached the sea, the eruptive process continues its activity.The rest of the casts are practically inactive.From this morning the appearance of an extensive smoking field on the northeast flank is confirmed.The eruptive process can show episodes of increase and decrease in Strombolian activity, as well as pulses with freatomagmatic activity.The morphology of the cone changes repeatedly by the successive processes of growth and reconfiguration.
The height measured today from the ashes and gases column is 2500 m.The predominance of atmospheric stability continues with the presence of a marked thermal investment (about 5 to 7 ° C).This investment is around 1500 meters and will descend tomorrow about 700 meters, due to the entrance of a warm and dry mass in African origin and that can be accompanied by calima at high levels.The wind will continue from the northeast around 30-40 km/h, with strong intervals at the southeast and northwest ends (in these areas the gusts can reach the 70 km/h in a timely manner).
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In the area close to the eruption, due to the orographic effect, on the west slope, predominance of breezes according to the daytime cycle (Mar-Tierra address during the day and on the contrary during the night).Among 1500 - 5000 meters will predominate the East to Southeast component with intensities between 25 - 35 km/h.The wind configuration described above will have the cloud of ashes and SO2 to the north-northwest from the area of eruption, mainly affecting the west slope of the palm.The high stability in lower layers of the troposphere, together with the weak winds in the west slope will be unfavorable weather conditions from the point of view of air quality.
Low probability of weak rain in the north and this, for today.The seismicity continues to be located, mainly, close to the seismicity of the first days, at depths greater than 10 km.In the last 24 h, some dozens of earthquakes have been located, the largest than 3.3 MBLG, meaning with intensity II EMS.Some superficial earthquakes are also recorded in the environment of the eruptive center.The tremor remains stable at medium levels.Some seismic stations close to the Delta lavico register a high frequency tremor.Deformations show a stable pattern.The estimate of the emission rate of sulfur dioxide (SO2) to the atmosphere for this eruptive process yesterday continues to record relatively high values and according to the eruptive process, reaching values of 7149 tons per day.
The newspaper threshold of particles below 10 microns (PM10) established according to the current air quality regulations (50 μg/m3), was overcome again at the Los Llanos Mobile Station.This daily overcoming, does not suppose for now, that the air quality limits for health are exceeded, but it is recommended to continue with the precautionary measures established in the report yesterday.During today, PM10 and PM2.5 particles are reduced in the set of stations, compared to previous days.
Regarding sulfur dioxide (SO2), in the measurement cabin located in Tazacorte, high and very high values are being measured for several consecutive hours, exceeding 500 UG/m3 in the average time of 8:00.At this time, schedules greater than 300 UG/m3 are being measured in that station.In the station located in Los Llanos there is an increase in the concentration of sulfur dioxide since last morning, from that moment on values in the environment of the 100 UG/m3.This does not imply an overcoming of the time limit values, but if it continues in this way, the daily limit value could be exceeded.The smell of "rotten eggs" reported by some citizens in the Llanos de Aridane, is due to hydrogen sulfide in the air.These values, which are recorded continuously in air quality stations, currently do not represent a health danger.
The smell of "rotten eggs" and the increase of SO2 is due to the condition of the volcanic plume in the area.Regarding the rest of the stations located in La Palma, the SO2 values are low and do not present a problem at this time.The marine plume generated by the lava meeting with the sea should not underestimate, but it should not cause alarm.It is suggested to pay close attention to the wind grassland for the monitoring of the possible changes of direction of the plume and act accordingly.
Emergency services that work less than 1 km from the Delta should wear glasses and gas masks.Eye washing is also recommended after any exposure, since the symptoms, often do not perceive until later.These marine plumes can be felt up to several kilometers away from the fountain, although of course more diluted.If the marine plume reached population centers, it would be very beneficial to remain inside the houses whenever possible and close all doors and windows.
We believe that careful management of exposure to marine plume can be achieved, instead of the need to expand the exclusion zone.Those people with weakened respiratory systems (for example, asthmatic), must pay close attention to the forecasts of the plume, since they are more vulnerable to lower concentrations.To avoid the possible condition of these facts to the safety of the navigation of the B.O.Ramón Margalef who performs his scientific work in this area, it is recommended to maintain a distance of at least 500 m.
Before the large thicknesses of lava casting observed at some points, collapses of their forehead can occur that, in areas of greater slope, can lead to the formation of large fragments of casting, which can be detached from the front of the casting and that in a waysudden reaching distances of several meters from the casting front, depending on the topography.Also in areas of great slope, small pyroclastic flows can be produced.
A 2.5 km exclusion radius is recommended around emission centers to minimize pyroclast impact risk and gase exposure.It is also recommended not to approach lava casts due to the risk of exposing themselves to the emitted gases, possible landslides and high temperatures.It is possible that some violent detonations can produce the window glass breakage, to a radius of 5 km from the cone.
Therefore, in case of intensification of explosive activity, it is recommended to get away from the windows.In the areas affected by an intense ashes fall (which observed a clear deposition on the ground) and even more if it is observed, it is recommended to remain in interior spaces.In the open air, the use of FFP2 masks and eye protection systems is also recommended.Given the arrival of ashes to other islands, it is recommended in those affected, the use of surgical masks.
The roof cleaning in which thicknesses of several centimeters are recommended.It is insisted that the ash withdrawal procedure indicated by Civil Protection (moistening ash, eye protection, carrying mask, protecting the skin, ..., see attached documentation) are followed precisely).The respect of land and maritime exclusion zones remains imperative, to maintain the physical integrity of people.The continuous monitoring of the activity has been reinforced and any significant change that is observed will be communicated.Keep the information provided by the corresponding civil protection authorities. ”
