La Palma premiered on Netflix on December 12, 2024, and has already entered the top 10 charts on the streamer. The Norwegian series revolves around a pair of geological researchers who race against time to stop an imminent catastrophe caused by a volcanic eruption.
The show is set on the La Palma island, which is known for its active volcanoes. In 2021, a volcanic eruption took place in the region at the Cumbre Vieja volcanic ridge.
Though the Netflix series features a fictional story, it does include some real-world elements in the narrative. From the volcanic activity to the government action, here are five things La Palma took from the 2021 volcanic eruption.
5 things realistically portrayed in La Palma with respect to the 2021 ecological threat
1) La Palma’s volcanic activity
As seen in the show, La Palma is a real island located in the Canary Islands in Spain, off the coast of Africa. The island has a long history of eruptions. In the series, the Cumbre Vieja volcano erupts and causes massive destruction.
In 2021, the eruption began on September 19 and ended on December 13, lasting almost three months. The series is set around Christmas, which is around the real event’s timeline.
However, the show also brings up the dramatic idea of a mega-tsunami caused by part of the volcano collapsing into the ocean. This comes from the 1949 eruption when part of the volcano fell into the sea.
While some scientists worried this could lead to a giant tsunami, experts now claim that such a collapse is unlikely to happen for thousands of years.
2) The economic damage due to the eruption
The series shows how the volcanic eruption hurts the local economy, which did happen in real life. The 2021 eruption destroyed over 2,000 homes, large areas of farmland, and a significant portion of the banana plantations. After the eruption, the island’s economy dropped significantly.
Even though the Spanish government promised to help the victims quickly, many people struggled to get financial aid. Some families had to prove ownership of their homes or farmland before receiving compensation, which was hard as they had lost their documents in the disaster.
3) Evacuations saved lives during the disaster
One of the show’s most realistic parts is how the authorities evacuate people from danger. During the actual 2021 eruption, local officials acted fast to get residents to safety before the lava flow reached their homes. Thanks to these efforts, no lives were lost in the disaster.
The series shows how stressful and chaotic large-scale evacuations can be. However, it adds the aspect of people losing lives to make the story more engaging. The real-life evacuations had high stakes and many families had to leave their homes and belongings behind.
4) Government challenges and delays
The show also talks about the government’s role in handling the crisis, which mirrors what happened in real life. While the evacuation saved lives, many residents were dissatisfied with how things were handled after the eruption.
The government promised financial support to the victims, but delays made it difficult for people to get help. In both the show and reality, residents blamed the government for not being better prepared. Some officials were accused of not responding properly, while others faced criticism for creating panic.
5) The unpredictability of nature
While volcanic eruptions are natural events, the series suggests that overexploiting the environment can make things worse. The 2021 eruption was a reminder of how unpredictable nature can be. Scientists say natural disasters can not be prevented, but steps can be taken to reduce their impact.
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In the series, geologists Marie and Haukur take it upon themselves to warn the authorities about the possible disaster and save lives. To them, the volcano seems like a ticking time bomb that can explode at any time.
All episodes of La Palma are streaming on Netflix.
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