MADRID (AP) 鈥� Authorities on one of Spain's Canary Islands declared a volcanic eruption that started in September officially finished Saturday following 10 days of no lava flows, seismic activity or significant sulfur dioxide emissions.
But the emergency in La Palma, the most northwest island in the Atlantic Ocean archipelago, is not over due to the widespread damage the eruption caused, the director of the Canaries' volcanic emergency committee said in announcing the much-anticipated milestone.
鈥淚t's not joy or satisfaction - how we can define what we feel? It's an emotional relief. And hope," Pevolca director Julio P茅rez said. "Because now, we can apply ourselves and focus completely on the reconstruction work.鈥�
Fiery molten rock flowing down toward the sea destroyed around 3,000 buildings, entombed banana plantations and vineyards, ruined irrigation systems and cut off roads. But no injuries or deaths were directly linked to the eruption.
P茅rez, who is also the region鈥檚 minister of public administration, justice and security, said the archipelago鈥檚 government valued the loss of buildings and infrastructure at more than 900 million euros ($1 billion).
Volcanologists said they needed to certify that three key variables - gas, lava and tremors - had subsided in the Cumbre Vieja ridge for 10 days in order to declare the volcano鈥檚 apparent exhaustion. Since the eruption started on Sept. 19, previous periods of reduced activity were followed by reignitions.
On the eve of Dec. 14, the volcano fell silent after flaring for 85 days and 8 hours, making it La Palma's longest eruption on record.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro S谩nchez called the eruption's end 鈥渢he best Christmas present.鈥�
鈥淲e will continue working together, all institutions, to relaunch the marvelous island of La Palma and repair the damage," he tweeted.
Farming and tourism are the main industries on the Canary Islands, a popular destination for many European vacationers due to their mild climate.
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The Associated Press