Officials reported Saturday that the volcanic eruption on the Spanish island of La Palma has been declared finished, more than three months after it began.
The warning came after a ten-day period of low-level activity from the Cumbre Vieja volcano on La Palma, one of the Canary Islands off the northwest coast of Africa. The revelation was dubbed "the best Christmas present" by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
On September 19, ash plumes carrying hazardous chemicals were released into the air, while rivers of molten rock plummeted into the sea.
More than 2,900 properties were damaged, including residences, schools, churches, and health institutions, as well as wide swaths of farmland, at a cost of €900 million ($1 billion). There have been no reports of injuries or deaths, but thousands of people have been evacuated.
The eruption, which was followed by many earthquakes, was La Palma's first since 1971. After erupting for 85 days and 8 hours, the volcano ceased to erupt on the evening of December 14, making it the island's longest eruption on record.
"All institutions will continue to work together to relaunch the magnificent island of La Palma and restore the damage," Sanchez tweeted on Saturday.
His administration has pledged €225 million so far to help with recovery efforts, including temporary accommodation and financial aid for those who have lost their employment.
Miguel Angel Morcuende, a spokesman for the Canaries' volcanic emergency committee, tempered the positive news by emphasising that the volcano is still unpredictable and could erupt again at any time.
"How can we define what we feel if it isn't joy or satisfaction?" It's a huge relief for me. "And hope," added Julio Perez, the director of the emergency committee. "Because now we can devote our full attention to the reconstruction project."
People returning home were advised to open their windows to allow any hazardous gas that had accumulated to escape, according to public television RTVE. It will also take a long time for the lava to cool to a safe temperature.
Experts have cautioned that cleaning up the lava-damaged terrain and removing massive amounts of ash from buildings and roads will take several years. To prevent buildings from falling, soldiers from an emergency squad have been cleaning ash from rooftops.
At its widest point, La Palma is 35 kilometres (22 miles) long and 20 kilometres (12 miles) wide. The Canary Islands' primary industries are farming and tourism, and the islands' warm climate, especially in the winter, makes them a favourite vacation destination for many Europeans.
This week, Iceland's longest volcanic eruption in 50 years was also proclaimed over.
On March 19, a flare-up occurred on the outskirts of Mount Fagradalsfjall, around 30 kilometres (20 miles) southwest of Reykjavik, Iceland's capital.
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