17 Oct, 2017 @ 09:45
1 min read

SEISMIC SWARM: Spanish volcano experiences ‘over 350’ tremors risking eruption and MONSTER tsunami

volcano

LA Palma has hit been shaken by HUNDREDS of earthquakes in the past few days, sparking fresh fears its active volcano is about to erupt. 

A map released by the National Geographic Institute (NGI) shows exactly where the tremors have hit – mainly near the slopes of the massive Cumbre Vieja volcano.

Officially, 44 earthquakes of up to 2.1 magnitude rocked the sun-soaked island between Friday at 1.52pm and Saturday at 4.17am.

But experts believe the real figure could be as high as 352 – as many were too small to be officially recorded.

The NGI is now monitoring the area round-the-clock.

A team of geologists will arrive on the isle for CO2 profiles and to research the structure and strength of the volcano.

Experts from California and London have warned that if the funnel were to erupt it could collapse into the ocean and send a 500 mph tidal wave towards the UK’s south-west.

The report’s authors said: “The maximum impact would be felt in some key places in the Canaries… in La Palma, the city of Santa Cruz would be hit by two simultaneous flood waves with devastating consequences.”

The concerns have sparked panic among the island’s 86,000 residents.

The largest of the tremors which hit on 1pm on Saturday, registered 2.7 on the Richter scale and took place at 17.4 miles Underground.

This was narrowly followed by a quake of 2.6 at the same time on Sunday, and a third of 2.1 hitting the island at midnight on Monday.

These were followed by another ten tremors in a few hours.

The locals did not feel the earthquakes because the seismic movement is happening so low below the surface.

Government officials have called in volcano experts to examine the out of the ordinary seismic activity, which has been dubbed ‘a seismic swarm.’

Maria José Blanco, director of the National Geographic Institute on the island, said the island has never experienced anything like this.

The last time the volcano erupted was in 1971.

La Palma is considered to be the most active island in the archipelago.

Laurence Dollimore

Laurence Dollimore is a Spanish-speaking, NCTJ-trained journalist with almost a decade’s worth of experience.
The London native has a BA in International Relations from the University of Leeds and and an MA in the same subject from Queen Mary University London.
He earned his gold star diploma in multimedia journalism at the prestigious News Associates in London in 2016, before immediately joining the Olive Press at their offices on the Costa del Sol.
After a five-year stint, Laurence returned to the UK to work as a senior reporter at the Mail Online, where he remained for two years before coming back to the Olive Press as Digital Editor in 2023.
He continues to work for the biggest newspapers in the UK, who hire him to investigate and report on stories in Spain.
These include the Daily Mail, Telegraph, Mail Online, Mail on Sunday and The Sun and Sun Online.
He has broken world exclusives on everything from the Madeleine McCann case to the anti-tourism movement in Tenerife.

GOT A STORY? Contact newsdesk@theolivepress.es or call +34 951 273 575 Twitter: @olivepress

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