Civil Protection authorities in the Canary Islands today took the decision to close off access to two coves on the south side of the island of El Hierro close to the eruption site, after detecting an accumulation of gases that could prove to be toxic to the population.
The measure was taken after a technician working for the National Geographic Institutel (IGN) required medical attention yesterday after becoming unwell whilst measuring carbon monoxide levels in the area, despite the fact that the team had not found abnormal levels of the gas.
The head of Safety and Emergency Services for the Canary Islands, Juan Santana, explained that the technician concerned is now fine and that initial medical reports suggest that he could have had an adverse reaction after inhaling copper sulphate fumes coming from the bubbles of gas and ash that are periodically being expelled by the underwater volcano a mile out to sea.
In view of this risk, the authorities have blocked access to Tacorón and Puerto Naos beaches, because the morphology of these coves make them more prone to accumulating gases from the eruption in certain circumstances.
Santana made it cleat that there was no similar risk in La Restinga, since no potentially toxic gases have been recorded there, and that the public would continue to have access to the beaches between 8am and 6pm.
