© 2025 EmCan Media - Hosted By canaryfone The Directorate General of Emergencies for the Canary Islands Government has declared a pre-alert for strong winds across the islands effective from 6:00am tomorrow (Friday 3rd January) This decision is based on meteorological data provided by the Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) and additional reliable sources implemented under the guidelines of the Canary Islands’ Specific Emergency Plan for Adverse Meteorological Phenomena (PEFMA) Forecasts indicate southeastern winds with sustained speeds up to 40 km/h These winds are expected to be stronger in leeward areas with gusts potentially reaching or exceeding 70 km/h The region’s most susceptible to these meteorological conditions include: The activation of this pre-alert highlights the importance of preparedness in the face of potential meteorological disruptions Authorities advise residents and visitors in affected zones to exercise caution particularly in high-risk areas such as elevated terrain and leeward locations prone to intensified wind activity Metrics details The eruption of the Tajogaite volcano began on the island of La Palma on September 19 This study aims to present the design and methodology of the ISVOLCAN (Health Impact on the Population of La Palma due to the Volcanic Eruption) cohort as well as the preliminary findings from the first 1002 enrolled participants A prospective cohort study was conducted with random selection of adult participants from the general population with an estimated sample size of 2600 individuals The results of the first 857 participants are presented along with a group of 145 voluntary participants who served as interveners during the eruption Data on epidemiology and volcano exposure were collected and participants underwent physical examinations and venous blood extraction for toxicological assessment descriptive analysis revealed that the participants were mostly middle-aged individuals (50.8 ± 16.4) the participants resided at a median distance of 6.7 km from the volcano in the Western region and 10.9 km in the Eastern region Approximately 15.4% of the sample required evacuation whose 34.8% returning to their homes on average after 3 months A significant number of participants reported engaging in daily tasks involving cleaning of volcanic ash both indoors and outdoors The most reported acute symptoms included ocular irritation Multivariate analysis results show that participants in the western region had a higher likelihood of lower respiratory tract symptoms (OR 1.99; 95% CI:1.33–2.99) depression and anxiety (OR 1.95; 95% CI:1.30–2.93) The ongoing follow-up of the ISVOLCAN cohort will provide valuable insights into the short and long-term health impact related to the material emitted during the Tajogaite eruption based on the level of exposure suffered by the affected population Few studies have assessed long-term chronic health effects and the scarce longitudinal studies have methodological limitations due to the analysis of samples from hospitalized patients low reliability of data sources in some countries longitudinal studies with extended follow-up periods in the general population are needed to analyse the occurrence of deleterious medium to long-term effects the ISVOLCAN study (Health Impact on the Population of La Palma caused by the Tajogaite Volcano Eruption) was started This study involves the recruitment and follow-up of a cohort from the general adult population to assess the impact of the Tajogaite volcano eruption on the health of the population of the island The purpose of this paper is to present the methodology of ISVOLCAN study and provide a preliminary analysis of the data obtained from the first 1002 enrolled participants This is an observational epidemiological study targeting the general adult population residing in multiple municipalities on La Palma Island a group of volunteers from professional personnel with access to the exclusion zone or operations centre during the eruption (including civil protection workers The study consists of two different stages: the first stage involved recruitment and baseline assessments conducted from 2022 to 2023 while the second phase will involve follow-up of the cohort at 2 The study has obtained authorization from the health authorities and received a favorable decision from the Provincial Ethics and Medicines Committee (ref Participants were required to provide written consent before being included in the study is the city with highest population density The Canarian Public Health System provides healthcare to the entire population through a hospital and a network of primary care health centres throughout the island The sample selection was conducted using a random stratified approach based on age and gender groups according to the 2020 municipal census data of the population residing in the western region (El Paso The sample was drawn from the health card registry of the Canarian Health Service which is continuously updated and includes all individuals above the age of 18 who were residents on the island during the eruption and provided informed consent to participate in the study To ensure the achievement of the intended objectives The sample sizes for each municipality in the western region were as follows: Los Llanos de Aridane: 820; El Paso: 405; Tazacorte: 305; Puntagorda: 205 the sample sizes were 505 for Santa Cruz de La Palma Using a non-probabilistic convenience sampling method participants in the study also included members of various professional and volunteer groups involved in different tasks related to the eruption and who had access to the volcano’s exclusion zone or operations centre Although access to these areas was controlled and followed safety and protection measures we expected that these participants from the different groups were highly exposed during their workdays throughout the nearly four-month duration of the eruption An initial sample size of 1207 persons was estimated (precision 3% confidence level 95%) based on an expected prevalence of acute respiratory symptoms (the most frequently associated with such phenomena) Considering an anticipated participation rate in this type of study of 60–70% and a dropout rate during follow-up exceeding 30% the sample was increased to 2600 individuals telephone contact with the selected sample started Those who agreed to participate in the study were administered an epidemiological questionnaire specifically designed for this purpose The questionnaire was completed by Primary Care professionals participants were scheduled to visit the health centres in the two regions for physical examinations and two separate blood pressure (separately by 10 min) were recorded a venous blood sample of approximately 20 mL was collected divided into 4 tubes (2 tubes for complete blood count and 2 tubes for biochemistry) for the toxicological determination of persistent contaminants in whole blood and serum The tubes for complete blood were stored in a refrigerator at 4 °C while the biochemistry tubes were centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 10–15 min and then allowed to rest for 20–25 min until clot retraction the samples were transported to the Laboratory of the University Hospital of La Palma and finally stored at the Research Unit of the Hospital Nuestra Señora de Candelaria in Tenerife at -80 °C for the sera and − 20 °C for the whole blood primarily polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) will be quantitatively determined due to their possible formation in eruptive processes and their known carcinogenic and teratogenic properties the following will be determined: naphthalene inorganic contaminants that may have been emitted in these eruptive processes will be quantified in whole blood and Zn); (b) toxic elements listed in the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) inventory and V; (c) rare earth elements and other minor elements (Au All these analyses will be performed using gas chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) for organic contaminants and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for inorganic contaminants The determinations will be carried out in the Toxicology laboratories of the two public universities of the Canary Islands each participant underwent forced spirometry to measure lung function following the recommendations by the American Thoracic Society and the European Respiratory Society during the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic Forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV-1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) Spirometry tests were conducted using a portable spirometer acquired specifically for this study (Sibelmed Categorical variables will be presented with their distribution of absolute and relative frequencies Quantitative variables that follow a normal distribution will be summarized using the mean and standard deviation (± SD) while those that do not follow this distribution will be presented with the median and interquartile range (IQR) participant home coordinates during the eruption were obtained using the geodist command in STATA and elevation was obtained using the elevatr Statistical package in R A comparison of the distribution of sociodemographic characteristics variables related to the level of exposure during the eruption and previous comorbidities of the participants in the general population between the two regions (west and east) was performed Comparisons of means between two regions were performed by Student’s t-test if the variables followed a normal distribution or by the nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test for asymmetric variables multivariate logistic regression models were performed to evaluate the independent effect of the place of residence (west vs east) on acute symptomatology during the eruption Those variables considered to be of interest were introduced as adjustment variables The crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) are presented together with their 95% confidence intervals (CI) Statistical significance was assumed as p < 0.05 Analyses were performed using the statistical package SPSS 26.0® (SPSS Inc. Preliminary results of the descriptive analysis are presented for the first 1002 participants: 857 participants from the ISVOLCAN cohort representing the general adult population of La Palma Island and 145 intervening personnel who accessed the exclusion zone during the eruption Flowchart of the ISVOLCAN study cohort until December 31 Table 1 describes the sociodemographic characteristics of the analysed sample from the general population and 20.8% of the sample were unemployed before the eruption; a similar situation was found in the two regions During the eruption 662 (77.2%) resided in the western region and 198 (22.8%) in the eastern region The group of participants from the western region presented a higher percentage of women and a higher percentage of unemployed people significantly In the interveners, the mean age was slightly younger (45.7 years (± 11.8)) with a predominance of males (supplemental Table 1) Figure 2 shows the geolocation of the ISVOLCAN cohort based on the coordinates of participants addresses before and during the eruption in the general population. It can be observed that during the eruption, there was a displacement of residents from the Valle de Aridane area to other parts of the island. Place of residence of ISVOLCAN cohort participants: (a) before and (b) during Tajogaite volcano eruption Characteristics related to exposure during the volcanic eruption in general population are described in Table 2 The median distance from participants residence to the volcano during the eruption was 7.1 km (IQR:6.1–9.3); for the western region Most of the population in the sample engaged in cleaning up volcanic ash using tools with a high capacity for particle projection 85% of the general population always used masks when outdoors it found that the location of the usual residence with less distance to the volcano and higher altitude a more frequent cleaning of volcanic ash both inside and outside the homes and a more daily hours spent in outdoor environments were registered between participants from western region compared to those from the eastern one The frequency of use of face masks and protective eyeglasses in outdoor environments did not differ between the two regions The intervining group showed a similar distribution to the general population regarding variables related to volcanic ash cleaning (location as well as mask usage frequency and type in outdoor environments (supplemental Table 2) Table 3 shows baseline characteristics in general population related to lifestyle and pre-existing comorbidities before the eruption and use of healthcare resources and acute symptoms reported by participants during the eruption The most prevalent pre-eruption comorbidities included blood hypertension (24.3%) The most frequently reported acute symptoms by the general population were eye irritation (45.9%) 12.1% of the sample reported having an emergency visit at a hospital or primary care centres The main reason for primary care visits was anxiety or depression while hospital emergency visits were mainly due to osteomuscular traumas Only 1.8% of the participants reported being hospitalized during the eruption with surgical intervention being the primary reason Participants from the western region compared to those from the eastern one were the acute symptoms reported during the eruption were like those of the general population as well as the utilization of healthcare services the percentage of hospitalizations was lower in this group (supplemental Table 3) Table 4 shows the adjusted and unadjusted effect of region of residence during the volcano eruption (west/east) in general population on each of the most prevalent acute symptoms that showed statistically significant differences between the two regions daily hours in outdoor environments and type of smoker were entered as adjustment variables in all multivariate models for the acute symptom lower respiratory tract symptoms we adjusted for having suffered from any respiratory infection (influenza COVID 19 or cold) during the months of the volcano eruption Adjusted multivariate analysis results show that participants in the western region had a higher likelihood of lower respiratory tract symptoms (OR 1.99; 95% CI:1.33–2.99) depression and anxiety (OR 1.95; 95% CI:1.30–2.93) and insomnia (OR 2.03; 95% CI:1.33–3.09) This article presents the methodology of the ISVOLCAN study as well as a descriptive analysis of the baseline characteristics of the first 1002 participants (857 participants from the general adult population of La Palma Island After the initial telephone contact was established with the selected individuals from the general population of the island an initial response rate of 36.4% was observed Although a higher participation rate was expected the conditions of uncertainty and vulnerability experienced by the population immediately after the eruption was extinguished and during the subsequent months part of the evacuated population was still displaced or involved in bureaucratic and administrative procedures related to the disaster epidemiological data for each participant were collected through a health questionnaire Analysis of this data revealed that the participants had a mean age within the working-age range with a predominance of women and most individuals who had completed secondary education The recruited population mainly resided in the municipalities affected by the volcano with the highest number of displacements during the eruption occurring among the inhabitants of Los Llanos de Aridane which coincided with the movement of the lava flows it was observed that they were younger and predominantly male reflecting the male dominance in certain professions related to the field of public safety the local population resided much closer to the eruption at the time compared to other mentioned populations there are no published studies that analyze the potential effects of degassing exposure on the population of La Palma due to the recommendations of authorities and scientists as well as the activation of volcanic emergency protocols the integrity of the population was successfully safeguarded it is reasonable to assume that the displacements of the evacuated population during the eruption could have had an impact on their health the island’s population received daily information about the necessary preventive measures in each municipality based on air quality and the evolution of volcanic ash In the case of our sample from the general population and less than half of the evacuated individuals returned to their usual homes after an average of approximately 3 months nearly half of the individuals reported insomnia and symptoms indicative of mood disorders those who had to undergo evacuation displayed a higher incidence of these symptoms The eruption caused significant disruptions in the daily routines of the population in specific municipalities especially those directly affected by evacuation orders The elevated prevalence of anxiety and depression can be related to several factors including increased work demands during the eruption and the uncertainty concerning personal health given the substantial number of seismic events and the explosive nature of the eruption it is plausible that these anxiety-related symptoms contributed to the substantial percentage of reported insomnia among the affected population studies focused on monitoring toxin levels in populations affected by eruptions are limited primarily due to the challenge of simultaneously quantifying these inorganic toxins in blood samples collected from affected individuals the necessary analytical methods are mostly expensive limiting their inclusion into epidemiological studies as experts in toxicological analysis of both major inorganic and organic pollutants is presently conducting determinations using venous blood samples from study participants which is exacerbated in our case by logistical difficulties inherent in a fragmented territory like the Canary Islands limiting the transfer of biological samples and human or material resources between islands while the participants were randomly selected from the general population there may exist a selection bias if those who chose not to participate had some differential characteristics (e.g. which could limit the detection of certain relevant associations the epidemiological data relies on self-reporting by the participants which could introduce information biases affecting the validity of the results the high percentage of losses during follow-up several methodological strategies have been implemented The sample size was increased to more than double the initial estimate that is why recruitment and inclusion of participants are ongoing at this moment data collection started as soon as possible after the eruption was finished carried out by personnel specially trained to ensure rigor and thoroughness in the process following the recommendations of the IVHHN regarding epidemiological data records for such phenomena the data undergo rigorous quality control and verification processes Given that the data come from a randomized sample of the general population of the island this study will allow for the detection of causal associations It is worth noting that the inclusion of interveners in the ISVOLCAN cohort provides a significant area of study since they can be considered as individuals with high prior exposure The ISVOLCAN study has been meticulously designed as a 10-year follow-up study aimed at assessing the medium to long-term health impact on the adult general population of La Palma Island following the recent eruption of the Tajogaite volcano Despite currently being in a recruitment phase the study has successfully completed several stages of biological sample collection and biomedical data gathering Once the baseline measurements are finalized and toxicological determinations are conducted data from over 2000 individuals with varying levels of exposure during the eruption are expected to be obtained in our knowledge this study is the first to publish data related to the short-term health impact on the population of La Palma following the eruption of the Tajogaite volcano The data that support the findings of this study are not openly available due to reasons of sensitivity and are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request International Volcanic Health Hazard Network Primarily polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry An Improved Global Analysis of Population Distribution in proximity to active volcanoes Impact of the 2021 La Palma volcanic eruption on air quality: insights from a multidisciplinary approach The respiratory health hazards of volcanic ash: a review for volcanic risk mitigation The health hazards of volcanoes and geothermal areas Dynamics of diffuse carbon dioxide emissions from Cumbre Vieja volcano and metabolic syndrome: adaptations to CO2 increases Volcanic air pollution and human health: recent advances and future directions Respiratory health effects of volcanic ash with special reference to Iceland Increased mortality of respiratory 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PEVOLCA - Comité científico [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2023 Jul 28]. Available from: https://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/infovolcanlapalma/pevolca/ [Evaluation of the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of 5 questionnaires for the evaluation of post-traumatic stress syndrome] Increased respiratory morbidity associated with exposure to a mature volcanic plume from a large Icelandic fissure eruption Respiratory health and eruptions of the Nyiragongo and Nyamulagira volcanoes in the Democratic Republic of Congo: a time-series analysis Potentially harmful elements released by volcanic ash of the 2021 Tajogaite eruption (Cumbre Vieja Long-term exposure to PM and all-cause and cause-specific mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis Long-term exposure to low-level ambient air pollution and incidence of stroke and coronary heart disease: a pooled analysis of six European cohorts within the ELAPSE project Health effects of Long-Term exposure to ambient PM2.5 in Asia-Pacific: a systematic review of Cohort studies Long-term low-level ambient air pollution exposure and risk of lung cancer - A pooled analysis of 7 European cohorts Measuring air pollution from the 2021 Canary Islands volcanic eruption Health hazards from volcanic gases: a systematic literature review A survey of early health effects of the Eyjafjallajokull 2010 eruption in Iceland: a population-based study Respiratory health among professionals exposed to extreme SO2 levels from a volcanic eruption A retrospective study on acute health effects due to volcanic ash exposure during the eruption of Mount Etna (Sicily) in 2002 The effectiveness of respiratory protection worn by communities to protect from volcanic ash inhalation A longitudinal and multidesign epidemiological study to analyze the effect of the volcanic eruption of Tajogaite volcano (La Palma The Miyake Island Volcano Disaster in Japan: loss and Relocation as predictors of PTSD and Depression Acute impact of volcanic ash on asthma symptoms and treatment Rapid metal pollutant deposition from the volcanic plume of Kīlauea Impact of chemical elements released by the volcanic eruption of La Palma (Canary Islands Spain) on banana agriculture and European consumers Download references The authors give special thanks to Marta Rodríguez Pérez for her invaluable contribution in the technical support of this study She has managed the contacts with selected persons and scheduled participants She also designed all the electronic documents to recording data from the participants and has carried out the data quality control of the database of the cohort Many thanks too to the Primary Care health staff of La Palma for their help to disseminate the study and to administer epidemiological questionnaires to the participants Fundación Canaria Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Canarias (FIISC: ST22/07) University Hospital Nuestra Señora de Candelaria and Primary Care Authority of Tenerife Ignacio García Talavera & Antonio Cabrera de León Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS) University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC) Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERObn) María Carmen Daranas Aguilar & Luis Vizcaíno Gangotena University Hospital Nuestra Señora de Candelaria. Centro de Investigación para la Salud en América Latina (CISeAL) Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (PUCE) Study recruitment and sample processing: A.D.A.P Acquisition of epidemiological data: M.C.R.P Complete data curation and analysed: M.C.R.P All authors revised and approved the final manuscript The authors declare no competing interests Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material unless otherwise stated in a credit line to the data Download citation DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-024-01056-4 Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: a shareable link is not currently available for this article the most north-westerly island of Spain’s Canary Islands is preparing to host the fourth edition of the KOS Xtreme Triathlon on May 31 The event is organized by Beyond Xtreme Limits (BXL) and supported by Breña Alta City Council and La Palma Island Council The event motto ‘from the ocean to the stars’ (Spanish: ‘desde el océano a hasta las estrellas’) highlights the route of the event where triathletes swim in the ocean and ride their bikes to the mountains and then run between telescopes at one of the world’s premier astronomical observatories The route combines 2km of swimming in the North Atlantic Ocean 42km of cycling with 2,500m of elevation gain and a final 10km run with an elevation gain of 490m KOS Xtreme Triathlon culminates at the Roque de Los Muchachos at 2426m above sea level next year’s event is part of of the Canary Islands Cup which adds an additional attraction for local and international competitors Race Director Rafael Matos Santos said “Throughout their lives endurance athletes push their bodies to the limit to prove to themselves that they are capable of achieving their goals “Very few athletes have gone from the ocean to the stars and crossed the finish line KOS Xtreme Triathlon exists because we love triathlon and we want you to be able to experience something different in a unique environment on the planet pushing your limits and adding one more achievement in your life.” Previous event editions have brought together athletes from different nationalities representing countries such as Spain La Palma Airport is served by regional airlines (Binter Canarias and CanarFly) and various international airlines with flights to and from Tenerife and Gran Canaria There is also a ferry service between the city of Santa Cruz de La Palma and the islands of Tenerife and Gran Canaria www.kosxtremetri.com The technical director of Pevolca, the Canary Island volcano emergency action programme Miguel Ángel Morcuende, has asked the population of La Palma to take extra care and avoid travelling through valleys and unstable slopes as heavy rain starts to sweep across the island. Morcuende pointed out that this Thursday (25 November) it will rain in the north and east of the island, and on Friday up to 15mm of rain per hour is expected to fall. For this reason, and in order to guarantee people's safety, Morcuende has asked residents to avoid areas at risk due to the possibility of rain runoff, mud and landslides. Meanwhile, the IGN volcanologist, Carmen López, has confirmed that the downward trend of volcanic tremors and seismic activity continues, while the vertical and horizontal deformations of the volcano remain stable. This Thursday the wind will blow from the east and northeast, so the ash problems for air navigation will continue. Also, In the municipalities of Santa Cruz de La Palma, Breña Alta and Breña Baja, the use of FPP2 masks is recommended and outdoor sports are discouraged due to problems with the level of ash particles in the air. The third lava delta that has formed on the coast of Tazacorte already measures 5 hectares and has travelled about 350 metres from the cliff. In addition, there have been several overflows in the lava channels and the active number has increased, but not affected new areas. Morcuende said that the total affected area is now estimated at 1,088.84 hectares, an additional 15.63 hectares, and the lava delta located to the south remains at 43.46 hectares. According to the European Copernicus satellite monitoring programme, the number of affected buildings on La Palma now amounts to 2,798, of which 2,676 have been totally destrouyed and 122 are in danger or at risk. It is estimated that the cultivated areas hit now reaches 335.51 hectares, almost 9 more than the day before. Of these, 206.2 correspond to banana plantations, 60.01 to vineyards and 26.4 to avocado orchards. The number of people being housed in hotels remains the same, a total of 505. Comentar es una ventaja exclusiva para registrados Registered office Málaga, Avda. Dr. Marañón, 48. Ocorreu um erro no site, se o problema persistir, entre em contato com: Apoio ao cliente e anexe o código do erro. Tienda online de Mercadona donde podrás comprar todos nuestros productos y recibirlos en tu casa. Servicio gratuito que te permite gestionar todas tus facturas de forma sencilla, cómoda y segura. Creado por Mercadona para que nuestros proveedores, que no disponen del servicio EDI, puedan emitir facturas electrónicas. Un modelo de recursos humanos reconocido por ofrecer puestos de trabajo estables y de calidad. For top-class food and drink, and also for its otherworldly beauty, it’s well worth making the connection to La Palma in the Canaries, writes Sam Boland. it’s well worth making the connection to La Palma in the Canaries the plane’s windows filling with the sea below as the pilot banks sharply always feels a little bit more intrepid than usual for those of us used to landing among the wide open fields of Cork This is doubly so when you land on La Palma; the airport is squeezed in on a scrap of level ground with the Atlantic on one side and the massive bulk of the island’s central mountain range on the other These two contrasting features will dominate any trip to La Palma; I had a pain in my neck by the end of my first day from gawping down at the rugged coastline below me on one side and up at the sheer cliff-faces soaring above me on the other that make La Palma such a unique holiday destination and it is divided neatly north-to-south by the Cumbre Vieja (an active but currently dormant volcanic range) and the extraordinary Caldera de Taburiente The result is a wide variety of microclimates that should be impossible on an island of a mere 700 square kilometres — a tenth of the size of Co Cork the most north-westerly of the Canary Islands so its north in particular gathers a significant amount of moisture Combined with fertile volcanic soil and deep gorges that deter human interference feels like stepping back millennia in time green sunlight filtered down through the canopy of the laurisilva forest I would not have been surprised had the eerie silence been broken by the surprise appearance of a velociraptor The lush beauty of the north is in stark contrast with the south is home to more than 100 volcanic cones and vents the area around the town of Fuencaliente is characterised by fields of jagged black rock twisted into agonised shapes by unimaginable heat and pressure You can climb the San Antonio volcano (don’t worry last active in 1678) and take in the entire vista including the now solid lava flows from the most recent eruption in the region (1971 At the foot of Teneguía lies La Fuente Santa a long-lost natural mineral spring with alleged healing properties the lost spring took on Fountain of Youth proportions in folk remembrance it is set to become an attraction in its own right make do with two natural springs a brief walk west from Echentive beach And a short drive to the east is yet another alien landscape where salt is harvested and heaped in dazzling white pyramids along the black rock The south is home to most of La Palma’s few beaches so take local advice — it is the Atlantic Ocean out there The Palmertian solution is to build walls in natural coves and inlets that let water in and out but protect against waves and currents As seen in La Fajana and Charco Azul on the north-east coast the result is calm and safe bathing in crystal clear waters with spectacular views La Palma lacks the beach culture that has drawn Irish tourists to the likes of Lanzarote and Tenerife for decades Its overseas visitors are predominantly Northern European hikers and cyclists seeking respite from severe winters and miles and miles of switchback roads to explore La Palma is a paradise for outdoors enthusiasts of all abilities include well-laid- out strolls lasting two hours and The pine forest of El Pilar on the Cumbre Vieja La Palma’s hotel scene reflects this reality as well — the 1,500-bed Teneguía Princess resort aside The Canaries are a place apart but they’re Spanish too as evident in the colonial architecture of Santa Cruz de la Palma.On the other hand when these adventurers come down from the mountainside in search of sustenance La Palma is not found wanting — rich volcanic soil and plentiful moisture makes La Palma an epicurean’s but many other crops are processed here into luxury goods whose standards belie the island’s remote and rugged nature The Aldea distillery in San Andres y Sauces uses locally-grown sugar cane to make both clear and dark rum that deserve extensive In Brena Alta are two neighbouring cigar factories watch as cigars are rolled by hand as they have been for generations making use of La Palma tobacco to give their products a unique aroma Other native indulgences include the sweet white wine while La Palma also has a burgeoning craft beer scene Bar culture is friendly and unpretentious; whether in Cafe Sputnik on Santa Cruz de la Palma’s waterfront or at Kiosco Aridane on Los Llanos’s Plaza de Espana a drink at a Palmertian bar feels like sitting in a friend’s kitchen or garden one of La Palma’s top restaurants.The island’s cuisine is uncomplicated but hearty with fresh fish a centrepiece of every menu Vegetarians won’t struggle to find something to suit them Even the most humble taberna will have a freshly-made tortilla and local cheeses on its tapas board while papas arrugadas — sweet new potatoes crusted with sea salt and served with fiery mojo rojo and mild mojo verde — are a versatile snack Coffee lovers should try a barraquito — espresso with condensed milk especially from the award-winning El Cafe de Don Manuel in Santa Cruz and mealtimes can range from a couple of hurried snacks washed down accompanied by a local beer to late lunches that meander on into the evening over several courses Palmertian restaurants embrace their reliance on tourism owner of Il Giardino Jardino restaurant in El Paso will surprise you with a few words of Irish this welcome appears to be a natural trait of Palmertians I lost count of the number of times a simple expression of interest led to behind-the-scenes access: The San Antonio visitor centre screens an English-language documentary about the volcano just for me; when I express an interest in the pre-Castilian inhabitants of La Palma Carlos Cecilio Rodríguez shows me around his museum of aboriginal art despite it not being due to open for two months Cigars being hand-rolled at Puros Artesanos Julio in Brena AltaI was given a tour of the inner workings of the Aldea distillery; I even got to try my hand at rolling a cigar No doubt some of this amounted to showing off for the travel writer but it was also testament to Palmertians’ desire to show that small peripheral islands can create beautiful culture and achieve great things — not so unlike ourselves This impression of generosity of spirit is reinforced when David Dorta manager of the Hotel Valle Aridane in Los Llanos where I am staying invites me to his private members’ club for the last night of Carnival During a slightly tipsy tour of the club’s salons and music rooms I get another important insight into Palmertian society David tells me about the merchant families who built the irrigation system to bring water to the island’s farms A discussion ensues about how much of this good deed was benevolence and how much was self-interest; “In La Palma,” one conversationalist says darkly Perhaps it is his full face of Día de los Muertos make-up that give his words such foreboding the role of merchants and traders in the development of La Palma Further investigation of this civic spirit leads to perhaps the biggest surprise yet on this island of hidden surprises — the first democratically-elected public representative in La Palma The contribution Irish people have made to La Palma is celebrated by the Canaries Irish (or ‘CanIrish’) on St Patrick’s Day and in the name of a street in the capital honouring the extraordinary Dionisio O’Daly — or Denis O’Daly as he was known before he arrived from Cork in the 18th century.Denis O’Daly — or Dionisio as he is known in La Palma — was born in Co Cork in the first half of the 18th century His coat of arms suggests a connection with the O’Sullivan Beare clan of Bantry having left an Ireland in the grip of the Penal Laws O’Daly was dismayed to find ordinary Palmertians suffering under the ‘regidores perpetuos’ Again demonstrating his entrepreneurial — or some would say revolutionary — spirit O’Daly duly got himself elected mayor in 1767 deep-seated hereditary power does not give up that easily; when O’Daly and his campaigning lawyer attempt to sue the ‘regidores perpetuos’ for corruption and embezzlement they are met with a countersuit for sedition O’Daly’s mayorship is suspended on spurious grounds There follows a tale of adventure and derring-do on the high seas whereby O’Daly commandeers one of his own ships to flee La Palma and sails into the unknown with a crew handpicked for their loyalty to their boss and many more from O’Daly’s action-packed life have now been rescued from the dusty record books and given new life in O’Daly historia de un irlandés by local journalist Eduardo Cabrera Amid the many dramatic natural vistas of La Palma is the alien landscape of Las Salinas salt pans.Without wishing to spoil the ending a full 16 years before the French Revolution O’Daly became the first democratically-elected public representative in all of Europe O’Daly is not the only pioneering Irishman to influence the Canary Islands the 19th-century “father of Santa Cruz de Tenerife” while Lorenzo Cullen was president of the archipelago at the end of the last century Teoboldo Power composed the official anthem of the Canary Islands before his untimely death in 1884 and Alfonso O’Shanahan is one of the region’s most respected poets and journalists it’s clear the that ‘CanIrish’ as they are known have had a disproportionate influence on life in the Canary Islands “Irishmen came here and found people of the same spirit,” says Cabrera who travelled to Cork last year while researching O’Daly’s story but It seems the CanIrish like to celebrate this heritage as much as their Hibernian cousins St Patrick’s Day festivities have taken off in the islands in the last decade organised and promoted by enterprising CanIrish This is particularly so in Santa Cruz de la Palma where a week of celebrations last month included the launch of Cabrera’s book and a re-enactment of a scene from O’Daly’s life: The merchant but a local custom meant that festivities could not start until all couples were paired so when he found himself at a social event where men outnumbered women La Palma.The balance of the sexes restored I leave it late in my trip to visit La Caldera de Taburiente It has loomed over the island my entire time here almost like a final challenge for which one must temper the brain by absorbing the rest of La Palma’s natural beauty Formed half a million years ago when the volcano that comprised La Palma collapsed in on itself its steep walls soar some 2,500m metres above sea level and provided a natural defence that allowed the native Guanches tribes to resist Castilian invaders for nearly all of the 15th century Inside these walls is a 10km diameter lost world Hardy native pines cling to bare cliff outcrops; ice-cold streams burst out of the rock and disappear again; the silence within is absolute The magnitude of La Caldera is stunning — visitors will struggle to find a vantage point from which to view it in its entirety The only way to experience it fully is from within Palmertians have made this easy for visitors with a number of well-marked trails for explorers of all ages and abilities It is even possible to camp overnight; it’s free a permit is required (reservasparquesnacionales.es) Whether you choose a short stroll or a long hike in Los Tilos you’ll be immersed in almost otherworldly beauty.An overnight stay in La Caldera is an excellent way to enjoy another secret delight of La Palma — the night sky La Palma is a designated starlight reserve; its latitude and dedication to reducing light pollution mean the stars seem twice as bright as they do in Ireland there is a battery of observatories at Roque de los Muchachos on the rim of La Caldera For all these reasons and more (whale-watching La Palma has long been known as La Isla Bonita (connections to the Madonna song are coincidental) but Palmertians are beginning to also use the term ‘Europe boutique’ it’s hard to imagine anywhere else with so many European attractions — gastronomy scenery of so many kinds — packed into one place Perhaps the only reason La Palma remains off the beaten track is the relative difficulty in getting there There are twice-weekly flights from Gatwick and Manchester or you could fly to one of the bigger Canary Islands and catch the hourly Binter Canarias island-hopping airline service Hollywood has already discovered La Palma — Netflix fantasy drama The Witcher is making good use of its many terrains as we speak — and a young increasingly making tourist links with Europe and further afield mean temperatures range from 18 to 21 degrees making mid-terms or Christmas the perfect time to write your own chapter of CanIrish history From as little as €1 a week with our digital introductory offer Already a subscriber? Sign in more courts articles Around 10,000 visitors a day are expected to travel to La Palma over the bank holiday weekend to take the once in a lifetime opportunity of observing the volcanic eruption in person something that the technical director of Pevolca has thanked them for as they are contributing to help boost the island's economy stressing again that this shows that La Palma is safe the La Palma Cabildo and the management of Pevolca have launched a free ‘park and ride’ bus service to go to and see the Cumbre Vieja volcano safely and clothes that cover arms and legs are advised for protection and many people also sported goggles and carried umbrellas to protect themselves from falling ash The buses leave every 20 minutes from the old Buenavista airport in Breña Alta (where there is a large parking area) where you can see the volcano from the viewpoint The service hours for these three days are from 10:00am to 10:40pm for buses going to the Church square with the last return from Tajuya at midnight The Tajuya viewpoint has become a place of pilgrimage for those who want to observe the volcanic eruption over the last 42 days and yesterday the increase in visitors was particularly noticeable and it remained crowded throughout the day an image that will be repeated today and Monday Morcuende emphasized that the shuttle buses have been implemented to ensure safety and to keep roads clear for emergency vehicles by preventing traffic jams usually seen especially as there is no parking on the roads in the vicinity of the church of Tajuya so people are wasting their time trying to go there themselves Given the expected high influx of visitors this weekend it was agreed to restrict the access of private vehicles in the vicinity of the volcano The prestigious Blue Flag list has once again recognised 60 of the best beaches in the Canary Islands which are awarded for excellence in cleanliness and the standard of services or facilities the beach has to offer are part of the 729 awarded to Spain as whole that will fly from June has been awarded the highest number of 'Blue Flag' beaches this year Here is a full list of the beaches in the Canary Islands that have been recognised this year: Garachico: El Muelle and the Natural Pools of El Caletón Guía de Isora: Playa de La Jaquita and Playa San Juan San Cristóbal de La Laguna: The Natural Pools of Bajamar the Natural Pools of Arenisco and the Natural Pools of Jóver Los Llanos de Aridane: Charco Verde y Puerto Naos Santa Cruz de La Palma: Playa de Santa Cruz de La Palma San Bartolomé de Tirajana El Inglés The European Foundation for the Environment (FEE) and its Spanish subsidiary published the list of beaches yesterday (Thursday) in Spain that will display a Blue Flag this summer because they offer excellent facilities and good environmental conditions which includes 56 beaches and natural pools as well as 4 marinas in the Canary Islands it should be noted that the most emblematic urban beach of the Islands it is replaced by four benchmark beaches for tourism on the islands Regarding the loss of the blue flag at Las Canteras beach pointed out that to maintain the distinctive award there must be a certain quality of seawater at all times Las Canteras failed two samples due to sewage discharges over the last year The Ministry of Health for the Canary Islands have activated health warnings from tomorrow Tuesday 19th July until Saturday (23rd) in different municipalities of the islands of Tenerife AEMET is forecasting temperatures up to 36°C which exceed their threshold of 32° maximum and 24° minimum for activating the measures in the ‘Preventive Action Plan for the Effects of Excessive Temperatures on Health’ Evolución de la temperatura en el nivel de 925 hPa (725 metros de altitud aprox.) los próximos días. Se ve la intrusión de la masa cálida sahariana que se avecina. pic.twitter.com/n7WWAoJx5H - Continuously sip plenty of water without waiting to feel thirsty Avoid alcoholic and very sugary drinks during the day - Avoid exposing yourself to the sun during the hours of greatest heat intensity between 11am and 4pm - Avoid exercise or sports activities during the hottest hours Carry out these in the early hours of the day - Eat light meals that help replenish the salts lost through sweat such as salads and protect yourself from the sun with a hat or cap and sunglasses especially those that must be in the refrigerator for proper storage In the event of presenting any symptoms associated with heat exhaustion or sunstroke a sensation of suffocation due to heat (choking or hard to breath) A moderate magnitude 4.5 earthquake hit 14.3 km (9 mi) away from Los Llanos de Aridane, Canary Islands,  Spain 2021 at 5.07 pm local time (Atlantic/Canary GMT +0) The quake had a shallow depth of 38 km (24 mi) and was felt widely in the area The shallow depth of the quake caused it to be felt more strongly near the epicenter than a deeper quake of similar magnitude would La Palma is a gorgeous island part of the Canary Islands archipelago and although it's not as warm as the south of Tenerife or Gran Canaria during winter it's still a nice place to spend your winter holidays There are lots of things to do in La Palma for the active traveler but if you want to celebrate the New Year on the island so you can party with the locals and experience their culture and customs This is the schedule for the events happening in the major towns of La Palma Santa Cruz de la Palma says goodbye to 2023 in style With a single stage inAvenida Marítima the year 2023 says goodbye in Santa Cruz de La Palma with music and a great party Live music will be provided by the following artists: Changó Welcome the New Year by celebrating with the locals in Plaza del Ayuntamiento Los Canarios but people will start gathering earlier at around 00:00