Summary

(updated on 5th Oct 2021)

A volcano erupted in La Palma on Sunday 19th September 2021. Two weeks later, more than 1,000 buildings have been destroyed by the lava. More than 6,000 people are still evacuated and hundreds of families have lost their homes and their source of income. The eruption is expected to last for up to 3 months, which will cause much more damage. My husband and I am raising money to help them recover from the tragedy that they are experiencing. Although I live abroad, La Palma is my home island, and this situation is breaking my heart. Please, help us help them.

What is happening?

The island of La Palma, in the Canaries, is facing an emergency as a result of a volcano erupting on the southern ridge of Cumbre Vieja last Sunday, 19th September 2021. I'm from there, from very close to where the volcano is spreading its lava. Luckily, my family is safe, but many other families are suffering the tragic consequences of this natural and magnificent force.

Although the island is volcanic and the last eruption was only 50 years ago on the southern tip, close to the ocean, the eruption of this volcano has been a shock. We never thought that it would happen so close to urban areas in the heart of the island. In only four days, the rivers of molten lava have already covered the houses and agricultural land of more than 200 families, who have lost everything they owned and in many cases, their livelihoods. Scientists have estimated that the activity of the volcano will last between 24 and 84 days, which makes the amount of damage caused by the whole volcanic process incomprehensible.

A volcano cannot be stopped or extinguished, and local authorities are doing a great job of keeping people and animals safe after early evacuation of affected areas. It must be really frightening to leave your house knowing that it will disappear, and you will never be able to return to it as it was. The shape of the land is changing and even after the volcano eruption stops, the lava will stay hot for a long time afterwards. These people need help to relocate and access material resources, from food and toiletries to furniture and electrical appliances.

I'm currently living in Sheffield (UK) and I have been feeling helpless since the eruption and the disaster started. It is difficult not being close to your people in such a tragedy. My husband and I have started this fundraising page to support the victims of the volcano. I want to be optimistic and have set an ambitious target. I believe that together we can achieve it and make a difference to the lives of these people. Please help me to help them by donating and sharing this message with others. Every contribution, no matter how small, is important.

Information updated on 5th Oct 2021

There have been 17 days since the volcano eruption started, and it is still going on strong, with no signs of wanting to go to sleep yet. The lava flows reached the coast a week ago, like an unstoppable slow-motion tragedy. Near to the coast the lava covered vast areas of banana plantations, which represent the only source of income for many families in the area.

More than 6,000 people are still evacuated, either because they already lost their houses or because their houses are still at risk as the lava flow keeps widening. At its widest part it measures 1,250 meters and the last estimation about the volcanic materials ejected during the eruption exceeded 80 million cubic meters.

The latest data given by the scientist, and provided by the Satellite Copernicus, indicate that there are at least 420 hectares of land covered by the lava. On its way to the ocean, the volcano has affected 1,154 buildings, from which 1,046 have been destroyed and disappeared under the lava, together with more than 27 km of primary and secondary roads.

In two weeks, we have collected £2,730 – 5% of our ambitious target. Juanpe and I are very grateful for all the support you are giving us, and we believe that together we can achieve the target and help the affected people to start a new life. Please keep sharing this message and help us help these people. We cannot imagine what their suffering could feel like.

The last take-home message of this update is simply to emphasize the message that the local authorities and scientists are trying to communicate to the national and international communities about the island: “despite the volcanic eruption is causing all this damage, La Palma is a safe place to visit”. Being from there and knowing the history and reality of the island, I strongly agree with this message. If visiting the island was in your mind, please do. If it wasn’t, please consider it. This will also be a way to help.

Where will the funds go?

The funds collected will go to the official account of the city council of El Paso, which is the village where the volcano eruption is taking place. They are currently in charge of handling the funds to help the victims of the volcano.

Being abroad, we are aware that a bank transfer is not always the easiest way to donate. Wherever you are in the world, this platform offers the possibility to donate easily as an online payment. If you prefer, you can always donate to the official accounts directly. What's important is that the funds get there.

If you want to know more about me, or would like to feel more confident about the legitimacy of this campaign, you can visit my LinkedIn profile.

THANKS for your help!!

Cover photo credit: www.elapuron.com