La Palma’s Cumbre Vieja volcano went completely extinct on Saturday, December 25, Spanish authorities said at a press conference.
It took the Cumbre Vieja volcano three months to fall asleep again. “Today, the scientific committee can say it (…) the eruption is finished” announced Julio Pérez, the director of the volcanic emergency plan of the Canaries during a press conference.
ÚLTIMA HORA
El consejero de Administraciones Públicas de Canarias, Julio Pérez, anuncia que la erupción del volcán de La Palma ha terminadohttps: //t.co/87GYEvoMrL pic.twitter.com/STA5ZB9zro
– RTVE Noticias (@rtvenoticias) December 25, 2021
“There is no lava, no significant gas emission, no significant earthquakes,” added the official, recalling that this eruption lasted “85 days and 8 hours” between September 19 until December 13.
“Most beautiful Christmas present”
The Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, did not fail to hide his joy, through social networks, even being, according to him, his “best Christmas present”
El mejor regalo de Navidad.
Todo mi reconocimiento a los palmeros y palmeras. Seguiremos trabajando juntos y juntas, todas las instituciones, para relanzar la maravillosa isla de La Palma y reparar los daños ocasionados.https: //t.co/fbia6FsSQG
– Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) December 25, 2021
Indeed, it is the longest eruption that the island has known and the first for 50 years. Despite its duration and the impressive images of molten lava flows, the eruption of the volcano caused no casualties.
Now Cumbre Vieja is in lethargy, its lava torrents are black, frozen, hardened, and a layer of black sand and ash has settled like a veil over the place.
It will take years, if not a decade, to clean up, clear away, rebuild and reclaim this disfigured land.