Is Lanzarote Prepared For A Volcanic Eruption?

The Canary Islands are a string of volcanoes in the ocean, so are we prepared if they ever erupt again?

In 2021, thousands of Canarians sat glued to their TVs as the glowing red-hot lava flow from the newly erupted volcano on La Palma reached a cliff edge and plunged into the ocean below, sending out huge plumes of steam and gas.

Every stage of that eruption, from the initial tremors and outpouring of smoke, ashes and lava, was closely covered by the media, and volcano experts flocked to La Palma to observe the latest eruption on European soil.

News did not travel nearly so fast when Lanzarote experienced its last volcanic eruption on the morning of the 31st July 1824, just over 200 years ago. A Marseilles newspaper reported the eruption on Lanzarote in October, and the Madrid Gazette mentioned it in November. By the time the rest of the world heard about the eruptions on Lanzarote, they were almost over.

These events, which created the volcanoes of Tao, Tinguatón and Chinero, were commemorated recently with a series of talks and events, which also coincided with the 50th anniversary of the declaration of Timanfaya as a National Park.

During a series of talks by volcano experts to celebrate this anniversary, Dr Nieves Sánchez described how the volcano of Mazo rose to a height of 200 metres in a single day in January 1731, before its cone collapsed in on itself, causing a violent explosion that sent “bombs” of lava up to 500 metres and covering Lanzarote with black ash.

Her message was clear: the island must learn from its volcanic history; it should promote and support scientific research, and the population should know what to do in the event of an eruption.

Research by Dr Sánchez’s team revealed that the Mazo eruption was more violent than had been previously thought, highlighting the unpredictability of the Timanfaya eruptions. “We should re-assess the danger associated with these types of volcanoes,” said Dr. Sánchez.

Dr. Inés Galindo explained how the eruptions of Timanfaya in the 1730s meant that Lanzarote was better prepared for the eruptions in 1824. The experiences of almost a century earlier meant that the island’s military commander had a clear plan of action and conducted vital tasks such as data collection and encouraging locals to act as scouts, reporting any underground noises or earth movements.

“We must always remember that we live in a volcanic zone and know what to do in the case of an eruption,” concluded Dr Galindo.

IS LANZAROTE PREPARED?

The most active Canary Islands are currently those in the west, especially La Palma and El Hierro, both of which have seen volcanic activity this century. Lanzarote is currently considered to be at low risk from eruptions.

An eruption here is extremely unlikely. In recorded human history, only two eruptions have taken place on Lanzarote, and the last one was 200 years ago. However, that doesn’t mean it is impossible – Timanfaya remains an active volcanic zone.

The type of volcanic activity in the Canaries means that eruptions are generally fairly easy to predict. They may be preceded by months or even years of tremors, and current seismic activity is constantly monitored at several points on the island.

That warning means casualties are likely to be low. No one died during the massive eruptions at Timanfaya, and only one person has died at a Canarian volcano in living memory – a man who inhaled toxic gases during the eruption of Tenaguia on La Palma in 1971.

But nothing can be taken for granted, and to ensure preparedness the Canarian Government has developed PEVOLCA – a contingency plan that lays down protocols for civil protection during eruptions. The last plan was completed in 2018, using data and information gathered during the undersea eruptions of 2011-2012 in El Hierro. PEVOLCA was put into practice just three years later when the volcano of Tajogaite on La Palma appeared.