LA PALMA VOLCANO: FIVE YEARS SINCE THE TAJOGAITE ERUPTION
Five years ago, on 19 September 2021, La Palma changed forever.
The Tajogaite eruption began on the Cumbre Vieja volcanic ridge after days of intense seismic activity. What followed was an extraordinary 85 days of volcanic activity, with lava cutting through parts of the Valle de Aridane, reaching the Atlantic Ocean and permanently changing the landscape of one of the Canary Islands.
For visitors to the Canary Islands, the eruption is now an important part of La Palma's recent history. For residents, however, its significance goes far beyond geology and tourism. Five years on, the island is still rebuilding homes, infrastructure, businesses and communities affected by the La Palma volcano.
WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THE LA PALMA VOLCANO ERUPTED?
The eruption started at around 3:11pm local time on 19 September 2021 in the area of Montaña Rajada, within the municipality of El Paso.
The eruption was classified as a fissural, Strombolian eruption. Lava fountains, ash and volcanic gases were produced as several vents opened along the eruptive fissure.
The eruption continued until 13 December 2021, lasting 85 days and eight hours. The authorities formally declared the volcanic eruption over on 25 December.
According to Spain's National Geographic Institute (IGN), the eruption covered approximately 1,219 hectares with lava. The lava travelled more than 6.5 kilometres across the land before reaching the coast, while new lava deltas also extended the island's coastline.
The eruption produced more than 200 million cubic metres of volcanic material and the eruptive column reached a maximum height of approximately 8.5 kilometres.
THE HUMAN IMPACT OF TAJOGAITE
The numbers only tell part of the story.
More than 7,000 people were evacuated during the emergency. Homes, agricultural land, roads, businesses and public buildings were lost or damaged, particularly in parts of El Paso, Los Llanos de Aridane and Tazacorte.
Official assessments have recorded more than 1,300 homes among the buildings destroyed by the lava, alongside agricultural, industrial, commercial and public structures.
There were no direct human deaths caused by the eruption, something volcanic scientists have linked to the early detection of the seismic crisis, scientific monitoring and the evacuation measures put in place.
For many families, however, the end of the eruption did not mean the end of the crisis. Losing a home, family land, a business or a lifetime of memories created a much longer period of recovery.
FIVE YEARS ON: HOW IS LA PALMA RECOVERING?
Recovery has been gradual.
By September 2026, the Cabildo de La Palma said that more than 1,200 homes had received authorisation to return, while a number of businesses and tourist establishments had also reopened in areas affected by the eruption.
Puerto Naos has been one of the areas where recovery has required particularly careful monitoring. Volcanic gases, especially carbon dioxide, have continued to be measured in homes, businesses and outdoor areas as authorities gradually allow greater access.
This is an important point for anyone planning to visit La Palma: the island is open to tourism, but some areas affected by the eruption remain subject to specific access and safety measures. Visitors should always follow current local instructions rather than relying on old maps, social-media posts or pre-eruption information.
REBUILDING MORE THAN ROADS AND HOUSES
The reconstruction of La Palma is not simply about replacing buildings.
The eruption altered roads, agricultural land, drainage systems and the physical geography of the island. It also created new volcanic landscapes that did not exist before September 2021.
The Spanish Government reported in 2026 that more than €1.1 billion had been contributed towards reconstruction and recovery measures since the eruption. Further infrastructure work and financial support continue.
At the same time, the future of the new volcanic landscape is being considered. In 2026, the Canary Islands Government put forward plans to incorporate the Tajogaite volcanic cone, its eruptive fissures and the lava field into the protected natural environment, alongside proposals concerning the new lava deltas.
That means the legacy of the 2021 eruption is likely to remain part of La Palma's landscape and identity for generations.
TAJOGAITE AS A PLACE OF SCIENCE AND LEARNING
The Tajogaite eruption also provided scientists with an enormous natural laboratory.
Thousands of earthquakes were recorded before and during the eruption, while satellites, drones, ground instruments and gas-monitoring equipment were used to follow the volcanic activity and its consequences.
The eruption became an important case study in modern volcanic monitoring because scientists were able to observe the development of an eruption from its seismic warning phase through to the formation of new land.
For visitors interested in geology, this makes La Palma particularly fascinating. The island is one of the most volcanically active parts of the Canary Islands, and its landscape provides a remarkable illustration of how volcanic islands are continually built and reshaped.
CAN YOU VISIT THE TAJOGAITE VOLCANO?
La Palma has developed volcanic tourism around the new landscape, with organised excursions and viewpoints allowing visitors to learn about the eruption and see areas transformed by the lava.
However, the volcanic terrain can be extremely uneven, fragile and hazardous. Access rules can change, particularly around areas affected by volcanic gases or unstable ground.
If you are visiting La Palma, check official local information before heading into the volcanic areas and use authorised routes or guided experiences where appropriate.
THE LEGACY OF THE LA PALMA ERUPTION
Five years after the first lava emerged from Cumbre Vieja, Tajogaite is no longer simply a news story. It has become part of the geography of La Palma.
The black lava fields, new volcanic cone and coastline created by the eruption will remain visible long after the emergency itself has faded from memory.
For residents, the anniversary is a reminder of what was lost and of the continuing work of reconstruction. For visitors, it offers an opportunity to understand a very different side of the Canary Islands — a landscape that is still young in geological terms and a living reminder that the islands are shaped by volcanic activity.
La Palma has not simply returned to how it was before September 2021. Instead, the island is adapting to a new landscape while continuing the long process of recovery.
And five years on, the story of Tajogaite is still being written.
