A volcano erupted last week on Monday night on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula, weeks after thousands of small quakes rocked the southwest coast. The eruption began on 18 December at 10:17pm about 4km northeast of Grindavik.
As the eruption spread, magma, or semi-molten rock, could be seen spewing along the ridge of a hill. The vicinity remains closed and hiking in the area is prohibited.
Despite lying just 20 km north of the eruption site, Keflavik International Airport – Iceland’s main international airport – remains open and flights are still arriving and departing. The road between the airport and Grindavik is closed, however.
Travel in Reykjavik has not been disrupted, but the Icelandic Met Office has warned that pollution could reach the capital on Wednesday.
If you are planning on travelling to or from the affected area, here are the full details on advice from European governments and airlines.
Although the intensity of the eruption decreased into the early hours of Tuesday morning, according to the Icelandic Met Office, this is not an indication of how long it will last.
It can be over in a week, or it could take quite a bit longer, says scientist Magnus Tumi Gudmundsson, who flew over the site on Tuesday morning onboard on a coast guard research flight.
On the latest surveillance photos the activity is now constrained to two craters, but was previously three, the Icelandic Met Office updated on 20 December, 2023.
Despite concerns over the impact the eruption will have on travel, nearby Keflavik Airport remains operational. Icelandic airport operator ISAVIA advises passengers to monitor flight information here.
Volcanic eruptions can pose a serious hazard to air travel as ash released into the atmosphere can cause jet engines to fail, damage flight control systems and reduce visibility.
But in this case, there is minor or no ash emission, as indicated by the orange aviation alert raised by Iceland’s authorities.
A major eruption in Iceland in April 2010 caused widespread disruption to air travel between Europe and North America. The quarter of a billion cubic meters of volcanic ash it ejected into the air led to more than 100,000 flights being cancelled over an eight-day period.
Though there had been fears of a repeat, Eyjafjallajokull volcano erupted under circumstances that contributed to the immense size of its ash cloud.
A glacier on top of it caused melt-water to rapidly cool the lava, creating tiny particles which were launched into the air by the steam produced in the eruption. These were then carried on the wind towards Europe.
The recent eruption took place under very different circumstances lowering the chances of similar flight chaos. In the past three years, three eruptions have taken place on the Reykjanes Peninsula with no impact on air travel.
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is also better prepared for a major volcanic ash event.
In the event of an eruption and development of an ash cloud, the agency will work with other aviation actors to assess the impact for aviation and make recommendations accordingly, a statement on the EASA’s website from November reads.
The Blue Lagoon geothermal spa – one of Iceland’s biggest tourist attractions – temporarily closed on 9 November after being hit by earthquakes. After briefly reopening on 16 December it is now closed again following the eruption.
All guests with confirmed bookings in the upcoming days will be contacted, an update on its website reads. We will continue to monitor the progress and maintain close communication with the authorities, prioritizing safety and well-being.
Surrounding spas, hotels and restaurants will also be closed.
Green Euro News / ABC Flash Point Europa Travel News 2023.
