According to a statement from the Defense Ministry, the Spanish navy has started helping farmers on the volcanic island of La Palma to reach their lava-surrounded banana plantations by sea. The eruption on the island is continuing strong despite scientists recording lower overall seismic activity levels during the past week, Spain’s National Geographic Institute said.
One of the lava flows descending from the Cumbre Vieja ridge, where the eruption began on Sept. 19, reached the sea and swallowed most of the beach amid plumes of smoke.
More than 1,000 hectares of La Palma’s surface has been covered by lava and over 7,000 people have been evacuated, with no reported casualties. Either lava or thick particles of ash raining down have destroyed hundreds of properties, including homes and the banana plantations that are so essential for the island’s economy.
On Thursday, four barges from the amphibious assault ship “Castilla” were making the 20-minute trip between the port of Tazacorte, on the western side of the island, and the beach of Puerto Naos, where many of the banana plantations are located.
Source: apnews.com
Photo source: Dreamstime.com
