Overall Orange alert Volcanic eruption for La Palma
in Spain

Event summary

Volcanic eruption La Palma is expected to have a medium humanitarian impact based on the magnitude and the affected population and their vulnerability.

Name: La Palma
Lat/Lon: 28.57 , -17.83
Event Date: 15 Dec 2021 00:00 UTC
Exposed Population 30km: About 91000 people within 30km
Exposed Population 100km: About 130000 people within 100km
Max Volc. Explosivity Index VEI: 2
Population exposure index: 4
Inserted at: 18 Oct 2021 15:46 UTC

GDACS Score

For more info on GDACS alert score click here.

Historical Timeline


Volcano Timeline

IDGDACS alert colorDateEruption DetailsSource
1 19 Sep 2021 00:00 Eruption at 2021-09-19 14:10 UTC intense lava fountains ongoing. JRC
2 21 Sep 2021 00:00 Eruption at 2021-09-19 14:10 UTC ongoing intense lava fountains. TOULOUSE
3 24 Sep 2021 00:00 Eruption at 2021-09-19 14:10 UTC with ash emission ongoing. TOULOUSE
4 27 Sep 2021 00:00 Eruption at 2021-09-19 14:10 UTC ash emission weakening. TOULOUSE
5 28 Sep 2021 00:00 Eruption at 2021-09-19 14:10 UTC ongoing eruption. TOULOUSE
6 29 Sep 2021 00:00 Eruption at 2021-09-19 14:10 UTC ongoing ash emission. TOULOUSE
7 30 Sep 2021 00:00 Eruption at 2021-09-19 14:10 UTC ongoing ash emission. TOULOUSE
8 05 Oct 2021 00:00 Eruption at 2021-09-19 14:10 UTC ongoing eruption. TOULOUSE
9 07 Oct 2021 00:00 Eruption at 2021-09-19 14:10 UTC ongoing ash eruption. TOULOUSE
10 08 Oct 2021 00:00 Eruption at 2021-09-19 14:10 UTC ongoing ash. TOULOUSE
11 11 Oct 2021 00:00 Eruption at 2021-09-19 14:10 UTC ongoing ash emission. TOULOUSE
12 12 Oct 2021 00:00 Eruption at 2021-09-19 14:10 UTC ongoing ash emission. TOULOUSE
13 13 Oct 2021 00:00 Eruption at 2021-09-19 14:10 UTC ongoing ash emission. TOULOUSE
14 14 Oct 2021 00:00 Eruption at 2021-09-19 14:10 UTC ongoing ash emission. TOULOUSE
15 15 Oct 2021 00:00 Eruption at 2021-09-19 14:10 UTC ongoing ash emission. TOULOUSE
16 19 Oct 2021 00:00 Eruption at 2021-09-19 14:10 UTC ongoing ash emission. TOULOUSE
17 20 Oct 2021 00:00 Eruption at 2021-09-19 14:10 UTC ongoing ash emission. TOULOUSE
18 21 Oct 2021 00:00 Eruption at 2021-09-19 14:10 UTC ongoing eruption. TOULOUSE
19 22 Oct 2021 00:00 Eruption at 2021-09-19 14:10 UTC ongoing ash emission. TOULOUSE
20 25 Oct 2021 00:00 Eruption at 2021-09-19 14:10 UTC ash emission ongoing. TOULOUSE
21 27 Oct 2021 00:00 Eruption at 2021-09-19 14:10 UTC ash emission ongoing. TOULOUSE
22 29 Oct 2021 00:00 Eruption at 2021-09-19 14:10 UTC ash emission ongoing. TOULOUSE
23 02 Nov 2021 00:00 Eruption at 2021-09-19 14:10 UTC ongoing ash emission. TOULOUSE
24 03 Nov 2021 00:00 Eruption at 2021-09-19 14:10 UTC ongoing strong ash emission. TOULOUSE
25 04 Nov 2021 00:00 Eruption at 2021-09-19 14:10 UTC ash emission ongoing. TOULOUSE
26 05 Nov 2021 00:00 Eruption at 2021-09-19 14:10 UTC ash emission ongoing. TOULOUSE
27 08 Nov 2021 00:00 Eruption at 2021-09-19 14:10 UTC ash emission ongoing. TOULOUSE
28 11 Nov 2021 00:00 Eruption at 2021-09-19 14:10 UTC ongoing ash emission. TOULOUSE
29 12 Nov 2021 00:00 Eruption at 2021-09-19 14:10 UTC ash emission ongoing. TOULOUSE
30 15 Nov 2021 00:00 Eruption at 2021-09-19 14:10 UTC ash emission ongoing. TOULOUSE
31 19 Nov 2021 00:00 Eruption at 2021-09-19 14:10 UTC ash emission ongoing. TOULOUSE
32 22 Nov 2021 00:00 Eruption at 2021-09-19 14:10 UTC ongoing ash emission. TOULOUSE
33 25 Nov 2021 00:00 Eruption at 2021-09-19 14:10 UTC ash emission ongoing. TOULOUSE
34 29 Nov 2021 00:00 Eruption at 2021-09-19 14:10 UTC ongoing ash emission. TOULOUSE
35 30 Nov 2021 00:00 Eruption at 2021-09-19 14:10 UTC ongoing ash emission. TOULOUSE
36 01 Dec 2021 00:00 Eruption at 2021-09-19 14:10 UTC ongoing ash emission. TOULOUSE
37 02 Dec 2021 00:00 Eruption at 2021-09-19 14:10 UTC ongoing ash emission. TOULOUSE
38 06 Dec 2021 00:00 Eruption at 2021-09-19 14:10 UTC low ash emission ongoing. TOULOUSE
39 07 Dec 2021 00:00 Eruption at 2021-09-19 14:10 UTC low ash emission ongoing. TOULOUSE
40 09 Dec 2021 00:00 Eruption at 2021-09-19 14:10 UTC ash emission ongoing. TOULOUSE
41 15 Dec 2021 00:00 Eruption at 2021-09-19 14:10 UTC no ash emission. TOULOUSE

Exposed population

The eruption happened in Spain , Autonomous Community of Canarias (population 790,897) . The nearest places are Malpaises, Las Caletas, Mazo, Puerto Naos, Las Indias, El Paso, Fuencaliente, Breña Alta, Los Llanos, Tazacorte, and Garafia.

Radius Population
100 km 130000 people
75 km 93000 people
50 km 92000 people
30 km 91000 people
20 km 85000 people
10 km 26000 people
5 km <1000 people
2 km <1000 people

Detailed event map. European Union, 2024. Map produced by EC-JRC.
The boundaries and the names shown on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the European Union.

Affected Provinces

Region Province Country Population
Canarias Spain 790000 people

Affected populated places

Name Region Province Country City class Population Distance
Malpaises Canarias (Canary Islands) Spain Village - 5 km
Las Caletas Canarias (Canary Islands) Spain Village - 7 km
Mazo Canarias (Canary Islands) Spain Village - 7 km
Puerto Naos Canarias (Canary Islands) Spain Village - 8 km
Las Indias Canarias (Canary Islands) Spain Village - 8 km
El Paso Canarias (Canary Islands) Spain Village 7000 people 10 km
Fuencaliente Canarias (Canary Islands) Spain Village - 10 km
Breña Alta Canarias (Canary Islands) Spain Village - 10 km
Los Llanos Canarias (Canary Islands) Spain Village 17000 people 11 km
Tazacorte Canarias (Canary Islands) Spain Village 5700 people 12 km
Los Llanos de Aridane Canarias (Canary Islands) Spain Village - 12 km
Santa Cruz de la Palma Canarias (Canary Islands) Spain City 17000 people 14 km
Tijarafe Canarias (Canary Islands) Spain Village 2600 people 15 km
Puntallana Canarias (Canary Islands) Spain Village 2400 people 20 km
Los Sauces Canarias (Canary Islands) Spain Village - 25 km
Puntagorda Canarias (Canary Islands) Spain Village 1600 people 27 km
El Tablado Canarias (Canary Islands) Spain Village - 28 km
Barlovento Canarias (Canary Islands) Spain Village 2300 people 29 km
Garafia Canarias (Canary Islands) Spain Village - 30 km

see full list

Critical infrastructure

Airports, ports, nuclear plants and hydrodams at risk, if affected, are listed below.

Airports

Name IATA Code Elevation (m) Usage Runway type IFR Runway Length (ft) Distance
La Palma SPC 33 Civ. Paved Yes 7200 10 km
Hierro VDE 31 Civ. Paved Yes 4100 84 km
La Gomera GMZ 218 Civ. Paved No 4900 85 km

Ports

Name LOCODE Country Distance
Santa Cruz de la Palma Spain 12 km
Valverde Spain 84 km

Dams

Nuclear plants

Tsunami impact

Click on image to zoom it.

Tsunami affected locations


Initial conditions

More information

For a full list of available products related to this event, please refer to the GDACS Resources page.