Latest news with #BenediktÓfeigsson
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Daily Record
Brits in Iceland issued urgent Sundhnúkur volcano advice as more eruptions 'likely'
Magma was seen pouring out of the volcano on the Reykjanes Peninsula on Wednesday morning. A warning has been issued to British holidaymakers after volcano Sundhnúkur erupted earlier this morning. Magma was seen pouring out of the volcano on the Reykjanes Peninsula, near the fishing town of Grindavík, in the early hours of Wednesday, July 16, forcing families and tourists to be be evacuated from the area. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has now updated its guidance on travel to the country. It warned travellers that more eruptions are 'likely' and advised them to closely follow local media for any further updates. This is the ninth time the volcano has erupted since December 2023. On Thursday, July 16, the FCDO said: "Volcanic eruptions and earthquakes are common in Iceland given the country's natural geography. In the event of an eruption or wider seismic activity follow the latest advice issued by the authorities. "Recently there has been a series of volcanic eruptions on the Reykjanes peninsula in south-west Iceland, the latest on 16 July. These have affected the town of Grindavik and the area to the north of it. Keflavik International Airport and the road to it is unaffected and operating normally. The capital city, Reykjavik, and the rest of Iceland is not affected by these recent eruptions. "It is likely there will be further eruptions in this location. Monitor local media for updates and always follow the authorities' advice on travel to the area. "The Government of Iceland monitors any seismic and volcanic activity closely and infrastructure is robustly designed, but not all events can be anticipated and can pose risks to your travel plans including travel delays and cancellations due to rock falls and landslides, sudden flooding and poisonous volcanic gases near eruption sites." Following the eruption, the National Police Commissioner decided, in consultation with the Police Commissioner in Suðurnes, to raise the Civil Protection alert level to the highest level as the likelihood of an eruption at the Sundhnúk crater has increased. This was revealed in a statement from the Communications Director of Civil Protection. The earthquake cluster is located between Stóra-Skógfell and Sýlingarfell, and is in a similar area to the beginning of magma flows in previous events, like April this year. The Blue Lagoon Iceland - a five-star hotel resort popular with Brit holidaymakers - and a local campsite were evacuated, as was most of the town of Grindavík. Experts say the fissure is between 700 and 1000 metres wide and does not appear to be getting longer as the lava flow appears to be most concentrated to the southeast. Benedikt Ófeigsson, a geophysicist and head of deformation measurements at the Icelandic Meteorological Office, has moved to reassure communities - but said things could change quickly. He said: "This is not a major event at the moment. It's a small volume and we're not seeing any signs that the tremors are getting shallower, as things stand now. "There is always some seismic activity, but nothing extreme, it hasn't been particularly increasing."
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Daily Record
Iceland volcano Sundhnúkur erupts as families and tourists evacuated
The Police Commissioner has increased the Civil Potection alert level to its highest. Families and tourists have been evacuated from towns - and a luxury hotel - as a volcano has erupted in Iceland again this morning. Magma poured out of the Sundhnúkur volcano on the Reykjanes Peninsula, near the fishing town of Grindavík,. The Icelandic Meteorological Office says the eruption - the volcano's ninth since December 2023 - happened in the early hours of this morning, Wednesday, July 16, after the mass evacuation. The National Police Commissioner has decided, in consultation with the Police Commissioner in Suðurnes, to raise the Civil Protection alert level to the highest level as the likelihood of an eruption at the Sundhnúk crater has increased, reports the Mirror. This was revealed in a statement from the Communications Director of Civil Protection. The earthquake cluster is located between Stóra-Skógfell and Sýlingarfell, and is in a similar area to the beginning of magma flows in previous events, like April this year. The Blue Lagoon Iceland - a five-star hotel resort popular with Brit holidymakers - and a local campsite were evacuated, as was most of the town of Grindavík. Local media reports cops are driving around town, to check on local residents and encourage them to leave their homes in case of an eruption. But when the same volcano erupted in April, some stubborn residents refused to leave their homes. Authorities pleaded with them to do so for their own safety. Gas pollution is spreading from the eruption sites to the northwest towards Vogar and Reykjanesbraut, where locals are asked to close windows and regularly monitor the air quality on the Icelandic Meteorological Office website. Pollution forecasts can also be viewed on the site. Experts say the fissure is between 700 and 1000 metres wide and does not appear to be getting longer as the lava flow appears to be most concentrated to the southeast. Benedikt Ófeigsson, a geophysicist and head of deformation measurements at the Icelandic Meteorological Office, has moved to reassure communities - but said things could change quickly. He said: "This is not a major event at the moment. It's a small volume and we're not seeing any signs that the tremors are getting shallower, as things stand now. "There is always some seismic activity, but nothing extreme, it hasn't been particularly increasing." Ms Sigurðardóttir, the natural hazard expert at the Icelandic Meteorological Office, says the location of the eruption is favorable as the eruption will not threaten any infrastructure and is far away from Grindavík town. There is only a possibility that lava flows from the eruption could damage the Grindavík road near Stora-Skógfell, but only if the eruption lasts a long time.
