Volcano in Iceland is unlikely to affect aviation; lava flows out of town

Wednesday, December 20, 2023

Despite the possibility that extended periods of seismic activity might keep happening, officials in Iceland stated on Tuesday that the lava spewing from a volcano was receding away from the sole neighbouring settlement. In addition to this, they understood that the eruption’s intensity was also lessening.

The authorities allayed fears about disruptions to foreign travel following the 2010 ash cloud eruption on the North Atlantic island by stating that flights were not expected to be impeded.

After a prolonged duration leading to severe seismic activity, the eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula exuded fear. Lava and smoke were spawned from the southwest part of the island, more than 100 metres into the air.

A government statement assured the people that the eruption would not happen, posing a threat to life. Other than that, they added that flight disruptions would not happen to and from Iceland. Furthermore, the international flight corridors will continue to remain open.

From the fishing village of Grindavik, located 40 km southwest of Reykjavik, almost 4000 people were forced to evacuate. Consequently, the residents were also permitted to return on occasion to inspect homes that happened to be at risk due to the earthquakes.

A rift in the earth that went up to a radius of around four kilometers (2.5 miles) in length resulted due to the volcano. Not only this but also its southernmost point happened to be only three kilometres from Grindavik.

In the beginning, it was difficult for 43-year-old Kristin Maria Birgisdottir of Grindavik to perceive the fact that the volcano had erupted. She told the media that everything just sped before her eyes. In addition, she noticed people had filmed it and posted it online when the eruption happened. She had just put her kids in bed and was readying herself to sleep when she saw the video. She took it to be a prank in the beginning. But to her dismay, it had actually happened.

People who wanted to fly back to their hometown in Grindavik to celebrate Christmas had almost lost hope. But after the government officials assured them that flights were unlikely to be affected, a lot of people were relieved, and their hope concerning the celebration was restored.

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