La Palma marks five years since devastating Tajogaite eruption

The island of La Palma is commemorating the fifth anniversary of the most recent volcanic eruption on the Canaries, which started on the 19^th September 2021.

The volcano continued to erupt for three months, filling the air with black ash and issuing terrifying rumbling sounds. Thousands of locals were evacuated, 2,000 properties damaged and a billion Euros worth of damage caused.

Only one death was recorded: a 72-year-old man who was overcome by toxic gases when he returned to his home to clean ash from his property.   

The eruption attracted the attention of the world, and the whole of the Canaries were glued to their televisions on the night of the 29^th September, when the lava flowed over a cliff into the sea.

There was anger at the time, as locals complained about “volcano tourists” taking advantage of their tragedy, and resentment continues five years after, as victims complain that the reconstruction project is advancing too slowly and government aid that was promised has failed to materialise.

The volcano has been officially named Tajogaite, although locals prefer to call it the eruption on Cumbre Vieja, the immense volcanic ridge that runs down the southern part of La Palma.