Active Volcanic Eruptions Worsen Air Quality on La Palma

Crews from several national agencies in Spain monitored ongoing eruptions at the Cumbre Vieja volcano on the island of La Palma, amid deteriorating air quality, reports said on October 8.

Video shared by the Spanish Civil Guard on Friday shows a view of the lava delta from the sea. Members of the guard attended a training session in La Palma, in the Canary Islands, related to the measurement of gases to aid scientists with data collection, the agency said on Twitter.

Smoke can be seen streaming from a delta of volcanic lava protruding into the sea.

Maria Jose Blanco, director of the National Geographic Institute in the Canary Islands, said that weather in the area was preventing the dissipation of ash and sulfur dioxide, El Pais reported.

Conditions on the island caused the shutdown of La Palma’s airport Thursday and Friday, according to officials. The airport had closed on one other occasion since the volcano began erupting on September 19. Credit: Guardia Civil via Storyful