A brand new 3-km fissure has opened up on the Reykjanes Peninsula and lava has reached the Blue Lagoon vacationer attraction.
A volcano in Iceland has erupted for the seventh time since December, spewing crimson lava by way of a 3-kilometre fissure on the Reykjanes Peninsula.
The eruption began at 11:14pm on Wednesday with little warning. Lava from the Sundhnúkur fissure was shifting at a velocity of 100m per hour yesterday, shifting additional westwards than ever earlier than in response to the Icelandic Met Workplace.
Regardless of this, the volcanic exercise is estimated to be significantly smaller than the final eruption, in August, the Met Workplace mentioned.
“Within the massive image, it is a bit smaller than the final eruption, and the eruption that occurred in Might,” Magnús Tumi Guðmundsson, a professor of geophysics who flew over the scene with the Civil Safety company to observe the occasion, advised the nationwide RUV broadcaster.
Guests had been evacuated from the Blue Lagoon thermal spa, certainly one of Iceland’s high vacationer sights, and it stays closed.
Regardless of mendacity simply 20-km north of the eruption web site, Keflavik Worldwide Airport – Iceland’s essential worldwide airport – stays open and flights are nonetheless arriving and departing.
In case you are planning on travelling to or from the affected space, listed here are the complete particulars on travelling to Iceland proper mpw.
How lengthy will Iceland’s volcano eruption final?
The Icelandic Meteorological Workplace have been updating the general public on the Reykjanes volcano for the reason that eruption.
They mentioned this eruption doesn’t look like as intense as latest exercise.
In a press release yesterday, the day after the preliminary eruption, they mentioned: “Eruptive exercise between Stóra-Skógfell and Sýlingarfell seems to be just like that noticed earlier this morning. Seismic exercise and deformation on the eruption web site stay very low.
The lava movement that crossed Grindavíkurvegur and the new water pipeline to the west has continued travelling westward. By noon, lava reached the car parking zone on the Blue Lagoon and continues to advance.”
Earlier than this 12 months’s eruptions, the Svartsengi volcanic system north of Grindavik had been dormant for round 780 years. The volcano is just some kilometres west of Fagradalsfjall, which was dormant for six,000 years earlier than flaring to life in March 2021.
Grindavík: Has the native city been evacuated?
Sure, the native city of Grindavík has been evacuated.
“Grindavík will not be in peril because it appears and it’s unlikely that this crack will get any longer, though nothing will be dominated out,” Magnús Tumi mentioned.
The repeated volcanic eruptions near Grindavík, which is about 50-kilometres southwest of the capital, Reykjavik, and has a inhabitants of three,800 individuals, have broken infrastructure and property and compelled many residents to maneuver away from the city to ensure their security.
The Grindavík group was beforehand evacuated in December following a collection of earthquakes that opened massive cracks within the earth between the city and Sýlingarfell, a small mountain to the north.
Iceland’s volcano eruption ‘will not be a vacationer attraction’
Vacationers usually need to see the majestic volcanic eruptions and flock to the location after eruptions.
Nonetheless authorities have repeatedly warned vacationers and locals to steer clear of Reykjanes.
“This isn’t a vacationer attraction and you have to watch it from an excellent distance,” Vidir Reynisson, head of Iceland’s Civil Safety and Emergency Administration, advised nationwide broadcaster RUV.
Have flights to Iceland been cancelled?
Regardless of considerations over the influence the eruption may have on journey, close by Keflavik Airport is open and flights are arriving and departing as regular.
Icelandic airport operator ISAVIA advises passengers to observe flight info right here.
Volcanic eruptions can pose a critical hazard to air journey as ash launched into the ambiance could cause jet engines to fail, harm flight management techniques and cut back visibility.
Nonetheless, the airport has beforehand mentioned they’re used to volcanic exercise and well-prepared to take care of it while not having to shut the airport.
Iceland’s Civil Safety and Emergency Administration mentioned, “Iceland is not any stranger to volcanic exercise and experiences a mean volcanic occasion each 5 years.
Icelandic authorities and the general public are extremely ready for such occasions, and Iceland has one of many world’s handiest volcanic preparedness measures.
Iceland’s geoscientists possess huge expertise in coping with volcanic actions.”
A serious eruption in Iceland in April 2010 precipitated widespread disruption to air journey between Europe and North America. The quarter of a billion cubic metres of volcanic ash it ejected into the air led to greater than 100,000 flights being cancelled over an eight-day interval.
Although there had been fears of a repeat, Eyjafjallajokull volcano erupted below circumstances that contributed to the immense measurement of its ash cloud. A glacier on high of it precipitated meltwater to quickly cool the lava, creating tiny particles which had been launched into the air by the steam produced within the eruption. These had been then carried on the wind in the direction of Europe.
These has been no influence on air journey throughout any of the latest eruptions.
The European Aviation Security Company (EASA) can be higher ready for a significant volcanic ash occasion.
“Within the occasion of an eruption and growth of an ash cloud, the company will work with different aviation actors to evaluate the influence for aviation and make suggestions accordingly,” a press release on the EASA’s web site from final 12 months reads.
Is it protected to journey to Iceland?
Sure, Iceland stays a protected vacation spot.
In a press release the Icelandic Met Workplace mentioned:
“Iceland is not any stranger to volcanic exercise and experiences a mean volcanic occasion each 5 years. Icelandic authorities and the general public are extremely ready for such occasions, and Iceland has one of many world’s handiest volcanic preparedness measures. Iceland’s geoscientists possess huge expertise in coping with volcanic actions.”
Travellers are suggested to steer clear of Grindavík and respect native restrictions. Go to the Icelandic Met Workplace and Secure Journey Iceland for the newest recommendation.
In any other case, Iceland is at the moment a protected vacation spot.
Keflavik Worldwide Airport and the street to it’s unaffected and working usually.
Nations haven’t issued a ‘no-go’ journey warning for Iceland that means that airways and vacation corporations are working as regular and travellers who cancel their bookings haven’t any automated proper to a refund.
Throughout a earlier eruption Jonathan Frankham, normal supervisor of journey insurance coverage firm World Nomads, mentioned: “For these involved about journey insurance coverage protection, and whether or not cancelling a visit is greatest, we’d advise travellers to train frequent sense and journey correctly,” says
“It’s vital to notice that insurance policies bought after the earthquakes and consequential volcanic eruption grew to become a ‘identified occasion’ are unlikely to be lined, however we advocate checking your coverage wording for actual particulars.”
He suggested vacationers to contact their airline or journey supplier for help and the newest info.
Is the Blue Lagoon open?
The Blue Lagoon geothermal spa – certainly one of Iceland’s largest vacationer sights – was evacuated when the volcanic eruption started.
Lava has now reached the Blue Lagoon’s automobile park.
The spa continues to be closed, in response to the official web site, and can stay closed till Sunday 24 November.
The scenario is being regularly assessed to resolve when the attraction can reopen safely.
The Blue Lagoon launched a press release saying, “On account of a volcanic eruption that commenced in Sundhnúksgígar on November 20, we took the precautionary measure of evacuating and briefly closing all our operational items.
Blue Lagoon will probably be closed by way of Sunday, November 24, at which era the scenario will probably be reassessed.”
Blue Lagoon administration mentioned that every one prospects with bookings could be contacted, and anybody wishing to alter or cancel their reserving can accomplish that on the official web site.
Watch the video above to see the Reykjanes volcano in motion.