2021 Cumbre Vieja volcanic eruption
An eruption at the Cumbre Vieja volcanic ridge, comprising the southern half of the Spanish island of La Palma in the Canary Islands, took place between 19 September and 13 December 2021. It was the first volcanic eruption on the island since the eruption of Teneguía in 1971. At 85 days, it is the longest known and the most damaging volcanic eruption on La Palma since records began. The total damage caused by the volcano amounts up to 843 million euros.
| 2021 Tajogaite eruption | |
|---|---|
The eruption seen at night on 20 September 2021 | |
| Volcano | Tajogaite |
| Start date | 19 September 2021 |
| Start time | 15:12 WEST (14:12 UTC) |
| End date | 13 December 2021 |
| Type | Fissure eruption Strombolian eruption |
| Location | La Palma, Spain 28°36′54″N 17°52′07″W |
| VEI | 3 |
| Impact | 843 million euros (total material damage, as of December 2021) |
| Deaths | 1 |
Lava flows (red) as of 23 November 2021 | |
The lava flow covered over 1000 hectares, prompting the evacuation of around 7,000 people. The lava flow was about 3.5 kilometres (2.2 miles) wide at its widest point, about 6.2 kilometres (3.9 miles) long and reached the sea, destroying more than 3,000 buildings, cutting the coastal highway and forming a new peninsula. The town of Todoque, including its easternmost neighbourhood Los Campitos, was completely destroyed by lava, which also reached La Laguna (a town within the municipality of Los Llanos de Aridane). One death has been linked to the volcano but the cause has yet to be determined.