La Palma volcano affects more than 1,000 homes while lava covers 709 hectares

The lava emitted by the La Palma volcano since the start of its eruption on 19 September covers 709 hectares, including the land that has been reclaimed from the sea since the night of the 28th, and has affected 1,005 buildings, of which 870 have been destroyed.

This is the latest update from Europe's Copernicus land monitoring satellite system, with data collected in the early hours of Friday morning.

The number of kilometres of roads affected has also increased compared to the previous count. Based on measurements taken on 29 September at 11.36 a.m. UTC now 30.2 kilometres are covered with lava, of which 27.7 kilometres have been destroyed by its flow.

The area occupied by the fallen ash extends over 3,172.9 hectares.

In addition, the affected areas could increase further with the appearance of a new lava flow. Scientists deployed on the island of La Palma are already monitoring this lava flow, which originated last night in the area of the secondary cone and which is currently flowing towards the sea, parallel to the main flow.

Luca D'Auria, director of the Volcanic Surveillance Area of the Volcanic Institute of the Canary Islands (Involcan), said in statements to Radio Canaria, that although it does not appear to be a very heavy flow, it is affecting areas that had not previously been touched by lava.

The scientists hope that it will not be a very extensive and durable flow. Luca D'Auria indicated that this evolution of the lava field is normal and has a behaviour that depends a lot on the temperature, so if one side of the lava flow cools down, it can slow down. However, there can be an overlapping of flows, break gaps and the lava flow can come out on the other side.

D'Auria added that it is a continuous evolution that is not possible to foresee in the short or medium term. The only thing that can be done is to monitor the situation and make forecasts, but until the area is flown over it will not be known what the extent, speed and dynamics of this new flow are.