Cape Verde's equivalent to Teide, the Pico de Fogo, in eruption this morning

[Michael]

Not sure i'd want to get that close. 

[Janet]

In the last hour or it has been announced that Portela has been completely destroyed by the lava flow, which has reached a speed of 10m/h. The flow is now headed towards Bangueira, and a total evacuation order has been raised for personnel in Cha das Caldeiras. JA

[Myrtle Hogan-Lance]

Those places do not even show up on Google Maps.  And it's not because Google is quick to update; thought I would get that in before somebody else.

[Janet]

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The lava flow has now destroyed all the dwellings in Cha das Caldeiras, to add to the destruction of the town of Portela in what has been an appalling week for Fogo. And still it continues to flow. JA

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[Janet]

The lava flow is now just under 3 km from the corona forestal, the 850 hectare national park reserve - like the Teide National Park - which is the most important forestry area in Cape Verde. Just as worrying, the route is the very one which could take the lava out of the caldera altogether, and therefore threaten the main inhabited areas on the island. This is like an eruption here heading towards the La Orotava forest and threatening to start going down to main towns in the north. Emergency services are on standby for whatever happens next, including the possible evacuation of main population areas. JA

[Janet]

It's a month to the day since Fogo's eruption started, and it continues, though more slowly over the last ten days than previously. In this last month lava has completely destroyed  the villages of Chã das Caldeiras and Portela, and almost totally ruined a third, Ilhéu de Losna. Although the lava flow has slowed its rate somewhat, giving hope that it might not overflow the caldera, it is still proceeding some 80m every 24 hours, and this week gas emissions have increased, with the "eruptive plume" now some 800m tall.

[Janet]

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Since 8 February no sulphur dioxide emissions have been detected, which suggests that the eruption has come to an end, vulcanologists say. In the end, despite widespread damage within the caldera itself, the lava mercifully did not overflow the rim to reach more populous areas. The above photo shows the new cone formed by the eruption with its now silent crater. JA

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