The administration in charge of the Volcanic Risk Prevention Plan for the eruption in La Palma, Pevolca, has ordered the confinement of the residents of several villages in the municipalities of El Paso and Los Llanos de Aridane due to worsening air quality as a result of gases emitted by the Cumbre Vieja volcano which affects 3,500 people.
These areas are within the ‘shadow’ of the volcano but away from the lava flows where people have not been evicted and have been able to stay in their homes. However, now they have to stay in them permanently due to an increase in the Sulphur Dioxide being emitted.
In addition, 4,500 residents of the towns of San Borondón, Marina Alta, Marina Baja and La Condesa, which are in the surrounding area where the lava met the sea, are still under home confinement and observing precautionary health measures due to potentially harmful gases.
Pevolca has sent these instructions to the people affected:
- Close doors, windows, blinds and any air intake from outside.
- Confine yourself, if possible, to the innermost rooms.
- Turn off the ventilation and heating or any system that draws in air from outside.
- For added security seal the joints of doors and windows using adhesive tape.
- Do not use telephones, free lines are needed for emergency services.
- Do not go out until instructions are given.
Emergency Services said that the new confinement has been agreed as a consequence of the meteorological conditions that govern with a thermal inversion that is preventing the dispersion of gases and is keeping them at low levels of the atmosphere.
The scientific committee warned today that the meteorological conditions could mean a worsening of the air quality that until now remains within the allowed parameters.
