Firefighters retreat as Cumbre Vieja volcano intensifies
September 25, 2021, 3:48 am

Firefighters retreat as Cumbre Vieja volcano intensifies

Repressentative image-Volcano-

The BBC reported, firefighters on the Spanish Island of La Palma have retreated due to intensifying volcanic explosions.

The BBC said, the Cumbre Vieja volcano started erupting on Sunday with thousands evacuated and more than 350 homes destroyed.

On Friday, authorities in three more towns told residents to evacuate.

A thick plume of smoke now extends four kilometres (2.4 miles) into the air with a number of flights in and out of the airport cancelled.

According to the BBC, no fatalities have been reported.

It mentioned, volcanic activity increased on Friday and Spanish media is reporting that a new vent has opened up, causing lava to flow.

Representative image

A social media post from the La Palma fire service said firefighters have "withdrawn from the area due to the intensification of explosive phenomena".

The firefighters had been conducting preventative work in Todoque neighbourhood.

Some 1,000 people in Tajuya, Tacande de Abajo and Tacande de Arriba were told to evacuate on Friday due to the intensifying volcanic activity.

Local flight operator Binter said it had cancelled all flights to La Palma due to the eruption, with Spanish airline Iberia also halting operations in the area.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said on Friday that the cabinet would next week declare the island a "catastrophe zone".

The Canary Islands government has already announced a first round of financial aid for people who have lost their homes.

Read more: Reconstruction plan funded by Egypt kicks off in besieged Gaza

The BBC noted, the volcano lies in the south of La Palma island, which is home to around 80,000 people.

It last erupted 50 years ago, in 1971. Scientists are unsure how long this eruption will last.

A spokesperson for Spain's National Geographic Institute told the BBC that past eruptions on La Palma have lasted between 24 and 84 days.

Source: BBC

Mahmoud Abbas gives Israel one year to end occupation of Palestine UK government works on temporary visas for foreign lorry drivers to work in UK

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”