An Eye Witness Account
The area which is now designated the Timanfaya National Park (the 'Fire Mountains') was once one of the most fertile areas of Lanzarote. Fertile, that is until the first day of September, 1730. That
day saw the beginning of a six year period during which this area would be totally devastated by successive volcanic eruptions, not terminating until the 16th day of April, 1736. During all that period, there would only be short periods of
calm.
The parish priest of Yaiza, Father Andrés Lorenzo Curbelo, recorded the happenings of the first few months of that disastrous six year period.
His account covers the period from the 1st. September, 1730, to the 28th. December,
1731.
He wrote:
"On the first day of September, 1730 between nine and ten oclock at night, the earth suddenly opened near Timanfaya, two miles from Yaiza.
An enormous mountain emerged from the ground with flames coming from its
summit.
It continued burning for 19 days.
Some days later, a new abyss developed and an
avalanche of lava rushed down over Timanfaya, Rodeo and part of Mancha Blanca.
The lava extended over to the northern areas to begin with, running as fast as
water, though it soon slowed down and ran like honey.
On September 7, a great
rock burst upwards with a thunderous sound and the pressure of the explosion
forced the lava going northwards to change direction, flowing then to the north
west and west north west. The lava torrent arrived, instantly destroying Maretas
and Santa Catalina in the valley.
On September 11, the eruption became stronger.
From Santa Catalina lava flowed to Mazo, covering the whole area
and heading for
the sea. It ran in cataracts for six continuous days making a terrible noise.
Huge numbers of dead fish floated about on the sea or were thrown on the
shore.Then everything quietened, and the eruption appeared to have come to an
end.
But on October 18, three new fissures formed above Santa
Catalina. Enormous clouds of smoke escaped, flowing over the whole island,
accompanied by volcanic ashes, sand, and debris. The clouds condensed and
dropped boiling rain on the land. The volcanic activity remained the same for
ten whole days with cattle dropping dead, asphyxiated by the vapours.
By October 30, everything had gone strangely quiet.
Two days later, however, smoke and ashes
reappeared and continued until the 10th of the month. Another flow of lava
spewed out causing little damage as the surroundings were
already scorched and
devastated.
A further avalanche started on the 27th, rushing at unbelievable
speed towards the sea. It arrived at the shore on December 1 and formed a small
island in the water where dead fish were found.
On December 16, the lava, which
until then had been rushing towards the sea, changed direction, heading south
west, reaching Chupadero which, by the following day, had turned into a vast
fire.This quickly devastated the fertile Vega de Uga, but went no further.
New eruptions started on January 7, 1731, with spontaneous fireworks embellishing the sadness and desolation of the south. Powerful eruptions with incandescent
lava and blue and red lighting crossed the night sky.
On January 21, a gigantic mountain rose and sunk back into
its crater on the same day with such a terrifying sound, covering the island
with stones and ashes. The fiery lava streams descended like rivers towards the
sea with the ash, rocks and dense smoke making life impossible. That lava flow
ceased on January 27.
But on the third day of February, a new cone threw out more
lava towards the sea, which continued for 25 consecutive days.
On March 20 new cones arose, with more eruptions continuing for 11 days.
On April 6, the same cones erupted again with even more fury.
And on the 13th, two more mountains collapsed into their own craters making a frightful sound.
By May 1, the fire seemed to have burned out, only to start up again
the following day, with yet another new cone rising and a current of lava threatening Yaiza itself.
By May 6, everything was quiet again and remained so for the rest of the month.
However, on June 4 an enormous land rift took
place which opened up three new craters and accompanied by violent tremors and flames which terrified the local people.The
eruption once more took place near Timanfaya. Different openings soon joined into one and the river of lava flowed
down to the sea.A new cone appeared among
the ruins of Maretas, Santa Catalina and Timanfaya. A crater opened on the side
of a mountain near Maso spewing out white fumes which had never been seen before.
Towards the end of June, 1731, all the western beaches and shores were
covered with an incredible number of dead fish of all species -- some with
shapes which islanders had never known before.In the north west, visible from
Yaiza, a great mass of flames and smoke belched forth accompanied by violent
detonations.
In October and November more eruptions took place which worsened
the islanders fears.
On Christmas Day, 1731, the whole island shook with tremors,
more violent than ever before.
And on December 28, a stream of lava came pouring
out of a newly risen cone in the direction of Jaritas. It burned the village and
destroyed San Juan Bautistas chapel near Yaiza".
And so it went on.......
