She's Gonna Blow: Canary Island Evacuated Amid Volcano Fears

Der Spiegel ^ | 09/29/11

[TigerLikesRooster]

09/29/2011

She's Gonna Blow

Canary Island Evacuated Amid Volcano Fears

Natural DisastersRSS

09/29/2011

She's Gonna Blow Canary Island Evacuated Amid Volcano Fears Photo Gallery: El Hierro Rumbles Photos DPA

Worries of a potential volcanic eruption have prompted Spanish authorities to evacuate residents and tourists on one of the Canary Islands. Thousands of tiny tremors have recently intensified, with the biggest one reaching a magnitude of 3.4, they said. The seismic activity indicates magma on the move. Info

Thousands of tiny earthquakes have rattled the island of El Hierro since this July. But recently the tremors have grown stronger, prompting concern from officials, who fear that a volcano on El Hierro, one of the Canary Islands, could be about to erupt.

On Wednesday, more than 50 residents and tourists staying at the base of the volcano were evacuated, and 11,000 locals nearby were advised to stock up on water, medicine and flashlights in case of an emergency.

Some 8,000 tremors have been registered on the island since July 19, according to the Spanish National Geographic Institute (IGN). Though most of the quakes occurred at sea and were too minor to be felt, they have been increasing in intensity, with one reaching a magnitude of 3.4 on the Richter scale early on Wednesday morning.

[TigerLikesRooster]

I remember some experts claiming that volcanic eruption in Canary Island could cause huge chunk of mountain to crash down to the sea, causing catastrophic trans-Atlantic tsunami to hit U.S. east coast.

[TigerLikesRooster]

P!

[maggief]

PING!

[who knows what evil?]

...so Wasserman-Shultz’s district may be under water pretty soon..?

[sodpoodle]

for the geographically challenged;)

http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/europe/canary.htm

[PreciousLiberty]

“I remember some experts claiming that volcanic eruption in Canary Island could cause huge chunk of mountain to crash down to the sea, causing catastrophic trans-Atlantic tsunami to hit U.S. east coast.”

It’s the Cumbre Vieja volcano on the island of La Palma that’s of concern, not this one. Of course if this one triggers a Cumbre Vieja eruption, that would be different. Even then, though, there’s no guarantee that the next eruption will cause the landslide...it might take several more.

http://www.rense.com/general56/tsu.htm

[PlateOfShrimp]

We’ll need to follow the tweets.

[G Larry]

WDC could use the rinse BEFORE the elections.

[ngat]

You seem to know a lot about the subject. I saw the TV program on NATGEO or The Science Channel a couple of years ago, but when it happens (the La Palma mountain tsunami) would the resulting 160’ high wave completely wash over the Florida Peninsula on into the Gulf of Mexico?

[BobL]

“I remember some experts claiming that volcanic eruption in Canary Island could cause huge chunk of mountain to crash down to the sea, causing catastrophic trans-Atlantic tsunami to hit U.S. east coast. “

I guess I could say some stuff here, but, as they say “Loose lips sink ships.”

[Cheburashka]

I remember some experts claiming that volcanic eruption in Canary Island could cause huge chunk of mountain to crash down to the sea, causing catastrophic trans-Atlantic tsunami to hit U.S. east coast.

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A specific island which has a specific topography, and this is not that island.

[FroggyTheGremlim]

I see that Gamera lives there

and at first I thought one of the islands was Lazamataz.

[Cheburashka]

...but when it happens (the La Palma mountain tsunami) would the resulting 160’ high wave completely wash over the Florida Peninsula on into the Gulf of Mexico?

---

Until the landslide actually happens all one can do is speculate about how big the landslide will be. Until you know how big the landslide is you can't be sure how big the tidal wave would be.

But hey, we have to sell papers or get hits on our web page to make money, so let's go with the most extreme possibilities. Who knows, maybe it will actually be as bad as we speculate.

Also the tsunami expert we use needs grant money, so it's in his interest to inflate the possibilities of catastrophe as much as possible.

[null and void]

Clever!

[DTogo]

WDC could use the rinse BEFORE the elections.

A rinse right off the map... be a shame to lose some of the national heirlooms in the Smithsonian.

[null and void]

Yeah. I’m stumped for anything else we’d really miss.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

P!

[PreciousLiberty]

“You seem to know a lot about the subject. I saw the TV program on NATGEO or The Science Channel a couple of years ago, but when it happens (the La Palma mountain tsunami) would the resulting 160’ high wave completely wash over the Florida Peninsula on into the Gulf of Mexico?”

I’m no expert, but I seriously doubt even a 160’ wave would significantly impact the GoM after traversing Florida, in fact I don’t think it would make it clear across at all. The long wavelength of this type of wave would allow it to potentially go far inland though. There might be some direct impact to Mexico and maybe south Texas as the wave passes south of Cuba...it also depends on how deep the bottom is there.

I understand there’s of controversy about how large this wave would be at the US East Coast even in the worst case scenario. It is worth noting that landslides have caused some amazing waves in other places like Alaska.

I’d just as soon not find out how big it’ll be in my lifetime...here’s hoping! :-)

[Jeff Chandler]

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[trisham]

Thanks!