Latest news with #LaPalma
The Independent
6 hours ago
- Climate
- The Independent
Summer forest-fire warning for holiday hotspot
A pre-alert warning has been issued for the Canary Islands due to the increased risk of forest fires during the summer. The islands on pre-alert include El Hierro, La Palma, La Gomera, Tenerife, and Gran Canaria, with measures in place until further notice. The Canary Islands' Mediterranean climate and winds from the Sahara desert contribute to a medium to high risk of forest fires. More than 2,000 firefighters are on standby to tackle any fires in the western islands and Gran Canaria. In 2023, Tenerife experienced its worst wildfires in 40 years, leading to the evacuation of over 12,000 people; the government urges precautions to prevent fires, such as avoiding throwing cigarette butts and fireworks near forests.
CTV News
28-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
7 women and girls die when boat carrying migrants capsizes while arriving to Spain's Canary Islands
Scientists walk near the crater at the Cumbre Vieja volcano in the Canary Islands of La Palma, Spain on Wednesday Dec. 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Saul Santos)
Daily Mail
19-05-2025
- Science
- Daily Mail
Experts issue urgent warning over 1,000ft tall 'mega tsunami' set to hit parts of the US... is your hometown at risk?
Imagine a wall of water up to a third of a mile high, roaring across the ocean at hundreds of miles per hour. The sheer destructive force of a mega-tsunami is almost beyond comprehension. Unlike regular tsunamis caused by earthquakes, mega-tsunamis are often triggered by huge landslides or collapsing volcanoes. Three regions in the US — Alaska, Hawaii, and the West Coast — face the threat of mega-tsunamis due to their proximity to unstable volcanoes, landslide-prone areas, and earthquake zones. One dramatic example occurred millions of years ago when an asteroid impact triggered a mile-high mega-tsunami during the time of the dinosaurs, leaving traces scientists still study. Today, one chilling possibility involves the Cumbre Vieja volcano on the Canary Island of La Palma, which could collapse into the Atlantic and send a mega-tsunami toward the US East Coast. The Netflix series 'La Palma' brings this scenario to life, showing a family on vacation as researchers discover signs of a volcanic eruption that could unleash a catastrophic wave. This idea comes from a 2001 study by Dr Simon Day and Steven Ward, who warned that a collapse of Cumbre Vieja's west flank could drop up to 120 cubic miles of rock into the sea, creating a massive wave. Their research suggests this wave could start at 2,000 feet high near the volcano and still reach up to 150 feet when it hits the Americas, threatening coastal cities. While some experts argue this Cumbre Vieja scenario is unlikely, as the volcano has erupted without causing such a tsunami, the US faces far more immediate mega-tsunami risks in three regions: Alaska, Hawaii, and along the West Coast. These areas have experienced devastating waves in the past, triggered by landslides, volcanic collapses, or earthquakes - processes similar to those studied in the Canary Islands. Today, ongoing geological activity and environmental changes make these regions vulnerable to future mega-tsunamis, threatening coastal communities and millions of people. Alaska In 1958, an earthquake in Alaska's Lituya Bay triggered a massive landslide, sending millions of tons of rock crashing into Gilbert Inlet. The huge mass of rock was approximately 2,400 feet by 3,000 feet and is believed to weigh up to 90 million tons. It was equivalent to dropping eight million dump truck loads into the water, according to NASA. The result was the tallest wave ever recorded, a 1,719-foot mega-tsunami that roared across the bay. Eyewitnesses reported a loud 'boom' as ice-filled waves swept away lighthouses and stripped forests bare, leaving a 'razor-cut' line noted by explorers as early as 1786. One fisherman's boat was lifted so high he looked down on treetops, while another couple was never seen again. Like the Cumbre Vieja scenario, Lituya Bay's mega-tsunami was driven by a landslide. Earthquakes in this region can shake loose massive amounts of rock from steep cliffs, displacing water and creating enormous waves. The confined waters of the bay amplified the wave's height, making it especially destructive. Alaska's rugged terrain and frequent earthquakes continue to make it a hotspot for landslides. Climate change is worsening the threat by melting glaciers, which destabilizes slopes and loosens rocks. In 2020, 14 scientists warned that the retreat of Barry Glacier could trigger a rockslide into Harriman Fiord, potentially causing a massive tsunami as large as Lituya Bay's. Steve Masterman, director of Alaska's Division of Geological Surveys, emphasized that these events are becoming increasingly likely as temperatures warm. Scientists are now monitoring glaciers and slopes to predict and prepare for future disasters. Hawaii Hawaii's volcanic islands have a history of mega-tsunamis driven by collapsing volcanoes. Around 105,000 years ago, a 1,000-foot wave slammed into the island of Lanai, leaving marine fossils high on its mountains. Researchers believe this was caused by a massive volcanic landslide, similar to the Cumbre Vieja scenario. Other ancient slides, like the 20-mile-long Nu'uanu slide, sent huge volumes of rock into the sea, generating waves up to 300 feet high that reshaped the islands' coasts. Hawaii's volcanoes grow by piling up layers of lava, but these slopes can become unstable and collapse, especially during eruptions or earthquakes. This can cause millions of tons of rock to slide into the ocean, creating mega-tsunamis that devastate nearby islands. The islands' steep terrain makes these events particularly dangerous. Hawaii's volcanoes remain active, with the Big Island's southeast side - home to 'younger' volcanoes like Kilauea and Mauna Loa - posing the greatest threat. In fact, Kilauea has been actively spewing out lava for months. The last eruption in its ongoing cycle ended on May 6. Penn State researchers warn that these unstable slopes could collapse again, triggering massive waves. The ongoing volcanic activity and frequent earthquakes keep the islands at high risk for tsunamis. Scientists are monitoring volcanic movements and landslide-prone areas, but residents and visitors must remain ready for sudden tsunami alerts and evacuation orders. The West Coast On January 26, 1700, a magnitude 9 earthquake along the Cascadia Subduction Zone unleashed a mega-tsunami that destroyed the village of Pachena Bay on the West Coast. Waves up to 100 feet high struck just 30 minutes after the quake, leaving no survivors. Huu-ay-aht Chief Louis Clamhouse, speaking in 1964, shared the oral history: 'The land shook at night… they had no time to escape. All drowned.' The quake also lowered coastal forests into the tidal zone, creating 'ghost forests' of dead tree stumps still visible today. Across the Pacific, Japan recorded a mysterious tsunami, later linked to this event. Unlike landslide-driven tsunamis, the Cascadia mega-tsunami was caused by a massive seismic event, where one tectonic plate slides beneath another. This movement displaces massive amounts of ocean water, sending tsunamis across vast distances. The 1700 event showed how far-reaching these waves can be. The Cascadia Subduction Zone remains one of the most active seismic zones in North America, with a high chance of another major earthquake in the coming decades. A similar event could trigger a tsunami like Japan's 2011 Tohoku-oki disaster, which killed nearly 16,000 people. The US Geological Survey and FEMA have estimated that there's a 37 percent chance of a magnitude 8 to 9 earthquake in Cascadia within the next 50 years. Coastal towns like Tillamook, Astoria, and Newport could be submerged, with parts of the coast sinking permanently. Researchers are improving early warning systems and evacuation plans, but the region's vulnerability to earthquakes keeps the tsunami threat alive. Alaska, Hawaii, and the West Coast face ongoing risks of mega-tsunamis due to their active geology and changing environments. Landslides fueled by melting glaciers in Alaska, unstable volcanoes in Hawaii, and powerful earthquakes along the West Coast could unleash catastrophic waves, as they have in the past.
Daily Mirror
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'Nauseating' film with top rating streaming free - but it comes with a warning
Viewers say it is a must-watch for fans of The Substance Fans of Oscar-winning body horror The Substance are being urged to watch a "nauseating" new film inspired by the story of Cinderella. A far cry from Disney's take on the classic tale, The Ugly Stepsister draws more inspiration from the Brothers Grimm version of the story, and just like the book, it isn't short of bodily mutilation. The cast of the horror-comedy includes Lea Myren as Elvira and Netflix La Palma star Thea Naess in the role of Askepott. Meanwhile Isac Calmroth takes up the role of Prince Julian and Ane Torp as Stepmother. The film's official synopsis reads: "A sinister twist on the classic Cinderella story, The Ugly Stepsister follows Elvira as she prepares to earn the prince's affection at any cost. In a kingdom where beauty is a brutal business, Elvira will compete with the beautiful and enchanting Agnes to become the belle of the ball." Its commentary on body image and beauty standards is clear, with Elvira going to extreme lengths to appease her prince. One reviewer claimed that it perfectly captures "the very real horrors of being a woman", adding: "The Ugly Stepsister takes the idea of a fairytale and transforms it into a nauseating body horror masterpiece." The 2025 film boasts an impressive 95 per cent critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes at time of writing, with an audience score at a respectable 86 per cent. However, many reviewers have all issued a warning to those gearing up to give it a watch: it's very, very gory. "30 years of film criticism and this is the first time that I've had to turn away from the screen for fear of retching," penned The Times' film reviewer Kevin Maher. Meanwhile a casual viewer shared: "Guys. It was good. Go see it, really gross though." "Horrible. Hated every second of the movie, I'm actually feel nauseous! DO NOT WATCH!" warned another, as a fourth reviewer said: "It was incredibly upsetting. It was also genius and unrelenting. I don't regret watching it at all, however the feeling it leaves you with is not a good one." Other viewers have drawn comparisons between The Ugly Stepsister and Oscar-winning The Substance given its mix of gruesome body-horror and exploration of body image, with one reviewer describing it as a "combination" of the two. The Norwegian horror flick premiered at Sundance Film Festival earlier this year and has now been made available for at-home streaming. For those feeling brave enough, The Ugly Stepsister is available to watch via Shudder which offers new customers a seven-day free trial. Alternatively, you can add Shudder to an Amazon Prime subscription for £4.99 per month.
Telegraph
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Spanish island hit by major power cut
The Canary island of La Palma was hit by a major power cut on Thursday morning, just 10 days after mainland Spain suffered a blackout. According to La Palma's government, more than a third of its 85,000-strong population was without power for around 45 minutes. Alberto Hernandez, the Canary Islands' energy chief, said a substation failure had caused a mismatch between energy supply and demand, which in turn triggered a power cut to protect the generating equipment. The blackout was the second power cut to hit La Palma in a week. A smaller one left around 300 households and businesses without power for several hours last Thursday. Fernando Gonzalez, La Palma's councillor in charge of energy, asked the Canary Islands government to seek solutions to the power problems on the island. He said: 'La Palma is suffering from an energy emergency.' The archipelago's government announced last month that it would install eight temporary fuel-burning power plants across Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura. However, the overall plan, overseen by Spain's climate transition ministry, is to boost the use of renewable energy as sun and wind is relatively reliable on the archipelago, which is located off the coast of northwestern Africa. In 2024, renewable energy accounted for 21 per cent of the electricity generated in the Canary Islands, compared to 57 per cent for the whole of Spain. The blackout that struck Spain on April 28 did not affect the Canary Islands, which, like the Balearic Islands and the Spanish North African territories of Ceuta and Melilla, has its own power supply. Pedro Sanchez, Spain's prime minister, has come under fire from the conservative opposition for not giving a reason for the outage and for refusing to rethink his plan to shut down the country's nuclear power plants.
