As the Cumbre Vieja volcano erupts on the Spanish island of La Palma, terrifying moments have emerged depicting a "lava tsunami" flowing towards a town on the island and engulfing its homes. Footage recorded by the Canary Islands Volcanology Institute captured the dramatic moments of one of the lava rivers flowing down the mountainside and was shared on their Twitter account. The institute stated, "One of our team members was able to really film a 'tsunami' of lava. Incredible speed as the lava flows."
The video shows a hot lava river flowing at high speed, consuming buildings in its path as it heads towards the sea. Meanwhile, emergency services continue to monitor the latest lava flows from the La Palma volcano, where there are two main lava rivers. The original river has three branches: two to the south of Mount Todoke, one of which has formed a lava delta, and the third located on the mountain. The second branch of the lava river is of particular concern to the authorities and researchers on the island, moving northwest with two attached lava flows characterized by their high density and wide path.
The "lava tsunami" in La Palma has led to the evacuation of up to 6,800 people since the beginning of the volcanic eruptions, although the island's main airport remains open and operational for now. However, the lava tsunami has destroyed more than 1,480 acres of land and approximately 1,600 buildings.
