La Palma Volcano Fires Lava Half Kilometer Skyward

Lava was fired as high as 400 to 500 meters in the air above the Cumbre Vieja volcano on La Palma on the evening of December 2, the Canary Islands Volcanology Institute (INVOLCAN) reported.

As of December 1, lava flows had extended to 1,163.7 hectares (roughly 4.49 square miles) on the island, according to the European Union’s Copernicus satellite program. Using satellite imagery, Copernicus reported that 2,790 buildings had been destroyed by volcanic activity on the island Cumbre Vieja began erupting on September 19.

This footage, uploaded by INVOLCAN on Thursday, shows lava flows in a newly formed cone of the volcano. Credit: INVOLCAN via Storyful