La Palma: Eruption of Spanish island volcano declared over after starting in September

Scientists walk near the crater at the Cumbre Vieja volcano (Saul Santos/AP) Credit: AP/Press Association Images

Authorities on one of Spain’s Canary Islands declared a volcanic eruption that started in September officially finished on Saturday following 10 days of no lava flows, seismic activity or significant sulphur dioxide emissions.

But the emergency in La Palma, the most northwest island in the Atlantic Ocean archipelago, is not over due to the widespread damage the eruption caused, the director of the Canaries’ volcanic emergency committee said in announcing the much-anticipated milestone.

“It’s not joy or satisfaction – how we can define what we feel? It’s an emotional relief. And hope,” Julio Perez, director of the Canary Islands' Volcanic Emergency Plan, said.

La Palma volcano: Eerie photographs show homes blanketed in ash

“Because now, we can apply ourselves and focus completely on the reconstruction work.”

Fiery molten rock flowing down toward the sea destroyed around 3,000 buildings, entombed banana plantations and vineyards, ruined irrigation systems and cut off roads.

“But no injuries or deaths were directly linked to the eruption.

For the past three months, life in La Palma has featured dramatic scenes of destruction

Mr Perez, who is also the region’s minister of public administration, justice and security, said the archipelago’s government valued the loss of buildings and infrastructure at more than €900 million (£760 billion).

Volcanologists said they needed to certify that three key variables - gas, lava and tremors - had subsided in the Cumbre Vieja ridge for 10 days in order to declare the volcano’s apparent exhaustion.

Abandoned cats wander in search of food at a road covered by ash and blocked by lava near the Cumbre Vieja volcano Credit: Emilio Morenatti/AP

Since the eruption started on September 19, previous periods of reduced activity were followed by reignitions.

On the eve of December 14, the volcano fell silent after flaring for 85 days and eight hours, making it La Palma’s longest eruption on record.

Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez called the eruption’s end “the best Christmas present”.

“We will continue working together, all institutions, to relaunch the marvellous island of La Palma and repair the damage,” he tweeted.

Farming and tourism are the main industries on the Canary Islands, a popular destination for many European vacationers due to their mild climate.