La Palma volcano update: eruption continues with slight decrease of activity

Activity has been a bit lower today compared to previous days. Volcanic tremor remains at moderate levels with pulses of intensification now and then, but is lower than during the past days, suggesting that lava effusion also decreased a bit.
At the vents, a lava flow continued to be active and explosions at the upper vents produce pulsating fountains with strong ash emissions. The ash plume has been rising nearly vertically today due to the absence of winds, reaching an altitude of approx. 4000 m.
The advance of the lava flows has slowed somewhat. The northern flow front, west of Montagna La Laguna and directed westwards, has been advancing at rates of approx. 15 m per hour and is now close to or already at the coastal cliff.
Deformation shows a trend of deflation at the station closest to the eruptive center, suggesting that the output of lava now exceeds supply of it from depth. This could be seen as a first sign the eruption likely has passed its peak.

Así está la erupción a las 11,45 hora canaria / There is the eruption at 11,45 Canarian time pic.twitter.com/wUOjhXzRas

— INVOLCAN (@involcan) October 17, 2021

Earthquake activity remains significant, although also decreased a bit compared to previous days. During the past 24 hours, there was 1 quake of magnitude 4.0, 24 quakes between 3.0 and 4.0, and 51 quakes between 2.0 and 3.0.