The eruption of the La Palma volcano is now the longest in history
Despite a difficult year, the local government offers its support with the adoption of a reinforced budget
It began on September 19 and the world was transfixed for weeks after the Cumbre Vieja volcano erupted on the Spanish Canary Island of La Palma and the resulting lava began to swallow farmland, buildings and roads. Thousands of people have had to leave their homes, becoming sort of refugees in the event of a natural disaster while waiting for things to return to normal.
Other events have made headlines since then, but you might still be surprised to learn that the eruption is still happening. In fact, it now makes it the longest such event in the small island’s recorded history, with records dating back 500 years.
Environmental impacts have long-term effects on people’s lives
This has been confirmed by scientists working at the Spanish National Geographic Institute, who are the most eminent experts in the matter. Given such historical significance, it seems only natural that everyone would feel taken by surprise by the lava flow that refuses to stop.
“People are fed up. As a local Palmero I took a break and went to Madrid to get some fresh air“said Juan Ernesto Pérez, 57, of the Los Llanos de Aridane community. Reuters.
The exasperation people feel, however, is more a reflection of their own understanding that bad events have a beginning and an end, then the work of recovery begins and that’s it. However, nature has shown that the environment is not something we can always manage and change.
Relaunch on the island is therefore a word charged with even more urgency than in the rest of Europe. The island’s government (Cabildo de La Palma) offered a metaphorical breath of fresh air in response when it announced late last week that it had passed next year’s budget.
Beyond the implied message that life goes on as before, the breakdown of the economic document shows that the authorities are ready to help the inhabitants by minimizing their socio-economic suffering.
Next year’s island budget will be 43.7% higher than the previous one, which in absolute terms means an increase of almost 55 million euros, for a total of almost 180 million euros. A third of the budget will go to social protection and support for disaster-stricken residents, and another third will be devoted to public recovery works, which will stimulate job creation.
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