Iceland volcano eruption immediately: Grindavík residents ordered to evacuate once more after new Reykjanes eruption

The Icelandic Met Workplace has up to date their hazard evaluation map to replicate that the probability of latest volcanic vents opening close to the evacuated city of Grindavik has lowered.

The brand new hazard map will come into impact tomorrow and be legitimate till December 28 until up to date in any other case.

“The Icelandic Meteorological Workplace (IMO) assesses that the probability of a brand new eruption forming with out warning close by Grindavík has decreased,” they stated, citing that the eruption had remained regular on Wednesday.

They added: “It must be famous that though the probability of vent formation inside space 4 has decreased, the hazard stage in that space is nonetheless thought-about substantial.

“Though the exercise has decreased for the reason that eruption started, the depth of the eruption remains to be vital and similar to eruptions at Fagradalsfjall.”

It comes as residents of Grindavik will likely be allowed to return dwelling in the course of the day from this morning.

The residents of Grindavík will likely be allowed again into the city in the course of the day beginning immediately. Individuals will start to be allowed into the city at 7am on Thursday, however they have to evacuated once more by 4pm.

The city was first evacuated when earthquakes started in November, and residents have been left in limbo ever since.

Úlfar Lúðvíksson, police chief within the area, stated: “Many issues have modified within the eruption space. Watching the eruption immediately is totally totally different than on Monday evening. There have been modifications there, hopefully constructive.”

Individuals getting into Grindavík is not going to be registered and won’t be escorted, however emergency personnel will likely be on the town. Vehicles going out and in of city will likely be checked.

On Monday evening, a hiker needed to be rescued after getting misplaced close to the eruption web site final evening.

Information web site Iceland Monitor cited coast guard officer Asgeir Erlendsson as saying the person was discovered protected after a search and dropped at security in a helicopter.

Preliminary reviews urged two folks had given an “SOS sign” in the direction of a passing airplane from close to the eruption web site – however it was later confirmed to be one hiker, he stated.

“The helicopter discovered him and took him again to city,” Mr Erlendsson informed the web site.

“He had develop into very chilly and had left his tools with a flashlight in one other place, which is why it was thought that these have been two males.”

An Icelandic official has informed the nationwide broadcaster RUV that they consider its higher for folks to “keep at dwelling and get into [the] Christmas spirit” than go to the erupting volcano.

Whereas volcanic exercise has died down, the eruption nonetheless poses a harmful menace to vacationers who’ve flocked to the location to catch a glimpse of the sputtering lava.

Hjordis Gudmundsdottir, communications director for Iceland’s civil defence division, stated that groups have already spent “lots of time” turning away folks making an attempt to succeed in the location.

She added that it could be higher to do some Christmas purchasing, “get into the Christmas spirit or possibly simply have a sizzling cocoa at dwelling and wrap Christmas presents.”

The Blue Lagoon was compelled to shut its doorways simply at some point after they reopened after a volcano erupted close by

The spa is a steamy bathing advanced of volcanic lava swimming pools that calls itself “one of many 25 wonders of the world.

The swimming pools are stuffed with water from a close-by geothermal energy station. The turquoise hue of the water is acquired from the algae that share the swimming pools with the vacationers.

The Blue Lagoon is an more and more widespread “wellness” vacation spot, with an upmarket lodge on the location.

Day guests are welcome, too: for round £50 you get entry to the Blue Lagoon, a silica mud masks and a drink.
The Blue Lagoon is greatest visited within the depths of winter, when steam rises from the nice and cozy water.

Keflavik Worldwide Airport is simply 10 miles away, with common buses. Throughout a stopover en route between Europe and North America it’s straightforward to make a facet journey to the Blue Lagoon.

Iceland has many extra thermal springs across the nation – together with in Reykjavik – and costs are usually a lot decrease.

Right here is the UK’s Overseas Workplace’s official recommendation for these desirous to journey to Iceland:

Since a volcano erupted in southwest Iceland on Monday evening, vacationers have flocked to the location of eruption to catch a glimpse.

Whereas officers have warned towards making the journey, volcanic eruptions in Iceland are usually thought to be innocent – and attention-grabbing, if momentary, vacationer points of interest.

Clive Stacey, founding father of specialist operator Uncover the World, has been sending British vacationers to Iceland for many years.

His firm operates a “volcano hotline”. He informed The Unbiased: “If there are eruptions in Iceland, and so they’re protected, and value going to see, then we organise particular journeys. Usually they solely final for a really quick time, so we take folks over as quickly because the eruption occurs.

“It actually isn’t harmful. They take all the right precautions. They give the impression of being after vacationers very, very nicely.”

A map launched by the Icelandic Met Workplace has proven how far the lava has travelled following a volcanic eruption within the Reykjanes Peninsula on Monday evening.

The lava has principally flowed east from the eruption web site, however there may be additionally a lava tongue flowing west from the area north of Stóra-Skógfell.

The Icelandic Met Workplace has up to date their hazard evaluation map to replicate that the probability of latest volcanic vents opening close to the evacuated city of Grindavik has lowered.

The brand new hazard map will come into impact tomorrow and be legitimate till December 28 until up to date in any other case.

“The Icelandic Meteorological Workplace (IMO) assesses that the probability of a brand new eruption forming with out warning close by Grindavík has decreased,” they stated, citing that the eruption had remained regular on Wednesday.

They added: “It must be famous that though the probability of vent formation inside space 4 has decreased, the hazard stage in that space is nonetheless thought-about substantial.

“Though the exercise has decreased for the reason that eruption started, the depth of the eruption remains to be vital and similar to eruptions at Fagradalsfjall.”