Navy helps farmers return to La Palma

Spanish Navy helps ​​farmers return to La Palma.

The Navy has begun transferring farmers by sea to previously inaccessible areas of La Palma. The volcanic eruption has caused devastation on the island.

Banana farmers who have their farms within the exclusion zone surrounding the volcano are being transferred using the landing craft (LCM) of the amphibious assault ship ‘Castilla’. This will allow farmers to reach previously inaccessible areas of the island.

The help was agreed on Tuesday by the Minister of Defence Margarita Robles. The Minister announced on Tuesday that the Armed Forces, the Military Emergency Unit and the NBC (Nuclear, Biological and Chemical) Defence Regiment ”will be in La Palma for as long as necessary”.

The Cabildo of La Palma had requested that the Ministry of Defence help. In response to this request, the Armed Forces will help farmers return to the island to tend their crops. According to the Minister, the ship will permit ”the transfer of some farmers who cannot reach areas where they have their banana production”.

The Ministry of defence took to Twitter to announce the first arrival of the ship at La Palma.

Three journeys will be made each day. Ships will run between the port of Tazacorte and the beach of Puerto Naos. This is the only place suitable for the boats.

Reportedly the transfers will only take around 20 minutes.

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