La Palma volcano eruption declared over after three months of destruction

FILE PHOTO: A drone pilot takes a picture of the mountain created by the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano after of 89 days of its start, in the area of Las Manchas, in El Paso, on the Canary Island of La Palma, Spain, December 17, 2021. REUTERS/Borja Suarez

MADRID (Reuters) - Scientists declared the eruption on Spain's La Palma officially over on Saturday, allowing islanders to breathe a sigh of relief nearly 100 days after the Cumbre Vieja volcano began to spew out lava, rock and ash and upended the lives of thousands.

After bursting into action on Sept. 19, the volcano suddenly went quiet on Monday Dec. 13 but the authorities, wary of raising false hope, held off until Christmas Day to give the all-clear.