The volcano in Iceland has erupted following several weeks of seismic activity.
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The Icelandic Meteorological Office has issued a warning that additional vents may emerge as the volcanic activity in southwest Iceland persists.
On Monday night, when the volcano on the Reykjanes peninsula started to erupt, three out of five vents remained active, releasing lava and smoke up to 100m high.
The intense spectacle is visible from up to 20km away as the eruption has dyed the sky orange. A live broadcast of the current eruption can be viewed here.
Specialists cautioned that the volcanic eruption could endure for multiple months, leaving the residents of Grindavik – who were forced to evacuate – disappointed as their plans to return home for Christmas were thwarted.
“Our community has experienced a lot in the past day,” stated the mayor. “Sadly, the excitement of potentially celebrating Christmas in Grindavík was dashed with the start of the eruption yesterday.”
Although the lava flow is currently moving away from Grindavik, Halldor Geirson, an associate professor at the Institute of Earth Sciences at the University of Iceland, cautioned that the town is still at risk.
An explosion was observed from a distance of 20km.
The volcanic activity in the Reykjanes peninsula of Iceland was visible from a distance of 20km.
A resident living in Sandgeroi, approximately 20km away from Grindavik, reported seeing the eruption from their home.
“It was unbelievable to witness it in person,” Aoalheiour Halldorsdottir shared with the BBC.
“She informed BBC News that while we have experienced volcanic eruptions in the past, this was the first time she felt genuinely afraid.”
“We’re accustomed to volcanic eruptions, but this one was incredibly intense.”
A detailed view of the active portion of the original fissure of a live volcano located in Grindavik on the Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland.
Is it considered safe to visit Iceland following a volcanic eruption? What are your options if you have a scheduled vacation?
Over the past six weeks, government officials in Iceland have been observing seismic movements near Keflavik airport, a significant hub for air travel in the North Atlantic region.
Simon Calder reports:
A meeting will be conducted by authorities today for the purpose of disseminating information.
Officials from Iceland will be hosting a press briefing today regarding the recent volcanic activity on the Reykjanes peninsula that occurred on Monday evening.
The Rescue Center in Skógarhlíð will be the location of the meeting.
The discussion is anticipated to cover topics such as housing problems in Grindvík and the Icelandic Met Office’s evaluation of risk.
Is it advisable to visit Iceland following a volcanic eruption?
Currently, Iceland is experiencing heightened geological activity as a volcano erupts on the Reykjanes Peninsula, located southwest of Reykjavik.
The Icelandic government has been keeping track of earthquakes near Keflavik airport, a large airport in the North Atlantic, for the past six weeks.
The volcanic eruption is located approximately 10 miles southwest of the airport and northeast of the town of Grindavik. The town, which has a population of 4,000, has been evacuated as a precautionary measure. Despite this, flights are still operating normally. Below are some important questions and answers regarding consumer rights.
Can I depart from Iceland?
Yes, as long as the international airport stays open. Up to this point, operations have been mostly regular, with a brief break to evaluate the potential danger when the eruption started.
Simon Calder has an additional amount.
Adrenaline junkies disregard cautionary advice in order to experience intense and captivating events.
On Monday evening, residents of Iceland gathered at the Sundhnjúkar crater after a 4km long crack formed and released dangerous gases and lava along the ridge of a hill.
As people in Iceland gathered near the location, the government of the country issued a warning about significant levels of toxic gases being emitted from the volcano and advised individuals to avoid the area.
However, onlookers, both tourists and locals, were mesmerized by the eruption. Robert Donald Forrester III, a visitor from the US, remarked, “It’s like something out of a film.”
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The subsidence of land in Svartsengi exceeds 5 centimeters.
On Tuesday, the Icelandic Met Office reported that the land surrounding the Svartsengi geothermal plant has sunk by over 5cm due to the recent volcanic eruption.
According to officials, the land had previously increased in height by approximately 35 cm after the magma channel was formed on November 10th. They stated that it is too soon to determine if magma will continue to build up under Svartsengi and if the land will further increase in height.
In the last month, officials in Iceland have been constructing defensive barriers around the power plant in order to shield it from potential lava flows.
Could the eruption of the volcano in Iceland impact air travel?
According to the Icelandic government, flights are unlikely to experience any disruptions due to the recent volcano eruption in the Reykjanes peninsula. This statement has eased worries about international travel.
According to a statement from the government, the eruption poses no danger to human life.
There are currently no flight disruptions to and from Iceland, and the corridors for international flights are still open.
Despite being close to the volcano, Keflavik Airport was still operating and allowing passengers to travel to and from the country.
Sam Mitchell, a volcanologist at the University of Bristol, said the latest eruption was very different to the 2010 Eyjafjallajokull eruption when “a large explosive eruption under a glacier produced a very large cloud and very fine ash in the atmosphere when the wind direction was pointing towards mainland Europe”.
In Pictures: Iceland’s volcanic eruption
Observe the eruption of the Grindavik volcano in Iceland.
Photo Gallery of the Iceland Volcano
The map displays a fissure line that stretches almost four kilometers near the Svartsengi power plant.
The map above displays a fissure, measuring almost four kilometers in length, located east of the Svartsengi geothermal plant and north of the town of Grindavik. The area was evacuated last month due to numerous earthquakes.
Satellite map of Iceland volcano
The satellite map from the Icelandic Met Office displays the newly formed fissure (yellow line) and lava flow (colored area) to the east of the Svartsengi geothermal plant.
Icelandic capital receives warning for gas pollution.
The capital of Iceland is facing potential gas contamination because of a recent volcanic eruption near the fishing village of Grindavik, which has been preceded by several weeks of strong earthquakes.
The Icelandic Met Office has issued a warning that fumes may reach Reykjavik by Wednesday morning.
On Tuesday, the officials reported that the volcanic activity was decreasing, with only three openings releasing lava in the southeast area of Stóra-Skógfell, compared to the previous five.
The majority of the lava has moved in an eastern direction from the site of the eruption, however, there is also a stream of lava flowing west from the area north of Stóra-Skógfell.
Since the eruption began on Monday night, the Met Office reported that there have been at least 320 earthquakes detected along the magma channels.
Source: independent.co.uk
