Five Years After Tajogaite Eruption, La Palma Navigates Housing Deficits and Agricultural Rebuilding

Five years of reconstruction in the Aridane Valley

On 19 September 2021, the Tajogaite volcano erupted at Cabeza de Vaca in El Paso, initiating an 85-day and eight-hour eruption that transformed the geography of La Palma. The volcanic activity produced six craters, emitted over 200 million cubic metres of material, and covered between 1,218 and 1,219 hectares of land before concluding on 13 December 2021. The lava flow destroyed 1,345 homes, damaged nearly 74 kilometres of roads, and displaced more than 7,000 residents across Todoque, La Laguna, and Las Manchas. Two lava deltas extending into the Atlantic Ocean added approximately 48 hectares of new land along the western coast. Five years after the eruption, local residents and regional authorities continue to manage the long-term displacement and physical rebuilding of the Aridane Valley.

Marcelino Rodríguez, the president of the La Laguna neighbourhood association whose home was spared by just one metre, described the ongoing reconstruction pace.

We have to live with what there is, you see movement and whoever says it does not move is lying, those of us here would like it to be faster, but it is what it is.

Housing shortages and temporary modular units

Housing remains the central challenge across the island, where over 60 families still reside in prefabricated container homes in Los Llanos de Aridane. Between February and December 2022, the regional government installed 85 container housing units measuring 50 to 60 square metres to accommodate evacuated families under renewable multi-year leases. Of the provisional housing stock, 49 containers and five wooden homes have been removed so far. The island council is constructing an initial public development of 53 homes, scheduled for delivery by the end of 2026. Many displaced residents continue to face elevated rental costs and delays while waiting for permanent residential replacements.

Agricultural recovery and lingering toxic gas hazards

The agricultural sector, which lost 288 hectares of banana plantations and 14,000 tonnes of buried fruit during the eruption, is gradually reclaiming covered terrain. By April 2026, agricultural associations and the regional ministry calculated that 37% of destroyed banana plantations in the Aridane Valley were operational again. In coastal settlements such as Puerto Naos and La Bombilla, toxic carbon dioxide emissions continue to restrict residential access. Specialized sensors and atmospheric monitoring protocols have allowed gradual repopulation based on safety criteria. As of September 2026, authorities have authorized 1,182 homes for return in Puerto Naos and 65 in La Bombilla.

Guided tourism and financial aid packages

Tourism centered on the volcanic landscape has expanded since El Paso municipal authorities reopened the path for guided excursions in mid-2022. More than 190,000 visitors have toured the craters, with over 50% of tourists visiting La Palma in 2024 including the volcanic route on their itinerary. Public spending commitments from the Spanish central government have totaled 1,237.5 million euros, supplemented by regional funding and a further 100 million euros allocated in 2026. Ángel Víctor Torres, the Minister of Territorial Policy, pointed to institutional cooperation during and after the crisis while preparing additional parliamentary decrees for the primary sector.

There was an example of institutional loyalty between the regional government and the Cabildo of La Palma, despite having different political colours.