Are volcanoes a threat to the human race? Thousands of locals, as well as visitors, have been affected after a Volcano erupted on the Spanish Canary Island of La Palma.
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Lava engulfs homes as giant volcano erupts
Are volcanoes a threat to the human race? Thousands of locals, as well as visitors, have been affected after a Volcano erupted on the Spanish Canary Island of La Palma.
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What's happening?
Local guide, Jonas Perez, could feel the tremors as he spoke.
"The most amazing thing, which I've never experienced, is the noise coming from the volcano, it sounds like... 20 fighter jets taking off and it's extremely loud, it's amazing."
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The island of La Palma had been on high alert. People noticed 22,000 tremors in the area in just one week.
Now, a volcano was erupting. The lava is moving at roughly half a mile per hour. It was expected to reach the sea last night.
The eruption has so far ruined homes, banana plantations and one school.
But just how dangerous are volcanoes? Since the year 1500, around 280,000 people have been killed by eruptions.
In June 2018, Volcan de Fuego in Guatemala erupted, leaving 190 people dead. In the same year, Kilauea volcano in Hawaii exploded, forcing evacuations.
Are volcanoes a threat to the human race?
Some say
Yes. Enormous eruptions could change the world in ways we are not prepared for. Ancient explosions shot gases into the sky. They began global cooling! Just one big eruption could do huge damage.
Others think
No. Eruptions happen all the time. Of course, they are dangerous. But we are getting better at predicting them. We should focus on the things that put more people in danger!
Lava engulfs homes as giant volcano erupts
A house burns due to lava from the eruption of a volcano in the Cumbre Vieja national park at Los Llanos de Aridane, on the Canary Island of La Palma, September 20, 2021 © Reuters