Iceland volcano – live: Evacuation zone ‘still dangerous’ as eruption could happen with only minutes’ notice
The evacuation zone in Iceland is “still dangerous”, a civil protection official has told The Independent, with current conditions leaving just a few minutes’ warning of a feared volcano eruption.
A fortnight since Grindavik was evacuated, after magma-induced seismic activity tore vast chasms through the streets of the town, officials are expected to lower the threat level in the area on Thursday – enabling residents to return for longer periods to collect their valuables.
Speaking to The Independent as international media were allowed back into the town for the first time, one civil defence official said: “It is still dangerous here ... I have never seen anything like it before. Usually we will have a few minutes warning to get out but with the weather like it is today we have even less.”
In addition to fears of weather hampering monitoring systems, civil protection chief Vídir Reynisson told Fox News: “The challenge that we have is that we will not see any strong evidence that the magma is coming up, we will see some small earthquakes and we can see how they will probably form in one place rather than another.”
Key Points
Evacuation zone 'still dangerous' as eruption could occur with only minutes' notice
Authorities to revise threat level near Grindavik
Ground near power plant swells as chamber beneath floods with magma
Peninsula braced for new ‘eruptive cycle’ to bring decades of volcanic instability
When will Iceland volcano erupt and what happens when it does?
On the ground in Grindavik: Christmas decorations flicker and children’s bikes left to rust
Grindavik sees uptick in tourists following earthquakes
17:20 , Matt Mathers
Grindavik has seen an uptick in tourists after being hit by an earthquake that caused huge craters, a tourism chief has said.
“Grindavík is the quintessential fishing town that has been Iceland’s backbone throughout the centuries,” Snorri Valsson, Iceland’s spokesperson for tourism, told The Independent. “It has an excellent museum already on the tradition of salted fish making, for example.”
He added: “But I see an increase in tourists coming certainly since the earthquake because the infrastructure will be repaired and there’s a history of the events of recent days.
“I could imagine it could be a focus point of the visitor’s centre for years to come because of these events and the effect it had on town life. For Iceland’s economy, it is extremely important Grindavík gets back to normal it has impacted the decisions of the central bank already.”
Grindavik residents given unrestricted access to return on Thurssday
16:18 , Matt Mathers
Residents of Grindavik were given unrestricted access to return to their homes on Thursday after being evacuated.
Some returned to collect jet-skis, cuddly toys and other valuables, Barney Davis reports from the small fishing town.
Others, however, were apparently not prepared to take any risks despite the decreasing chances of an eruption and stayed away.
Recap: Iceland remains on eruption alert as seismic activity wanes
15:20 , Tara Cobham
Icelandic authorities said on Friday they were still on alert for a volcanic eruption in the southwest Reykjanes peninsula, although the odds were falling after a drop in seismic activity.
Iceland has been living with a high risk of an eruption since seismic activity and underground lava flows increased in the region near the capital Reykjavik in late October.
The Metrological Office said in a statement that an eruption in or near the evacuated town of Grindavik was now seen as less likely and that volcanic magma is most likely to rise in the area between Hagafell and Sýlingarfell.
"Seismic activity continues to decrease," it said, adding that "the likelihood of eruption decreases over time".
Five ministers from the Icelandic parliament visited Grindavik on Friday, where evacuated residents have been allowed back since Thursday to pick up more personal belongings.
But it will be months before they all are able to move back to Grindavik due to infrastructure damage, Icelandic media RUV quoted public safety director Vidir Reynisson as saying.
As a result of a decrease in activity since the start of the week, the risk level related to earthquakes in Grindavik was lowered from emergency to danger level on Thursday, Iceland's civil defence authority said in a statement.
Icelanders reunited with pets after fleeing homes amid volcano threat
14:21 , Barney Davis in Iceland
Hundreds of pets have been rescued from Iceland’s town of Grindavik, after they were separated from their owners over threats of an imminent volcanic eruption.
Charities have taken part in a number of rescue efforts in a bid to save animals in the town with rescuers returning to look for animals.
Cats, dogs, hamsters and even hens were at the centre of rescue efforts after many were left behind following evacuation orders which gave residents minutes to leave. Over 4,000 people were evacuated.
Read more here:
Rescue effort to save pets left behind in Iceland town evacuated by volcano threat
Recap: Watch as town at site of eruption closed by search and rescue roadblock
13:09 , Tara Cobham
Is it safe to travel to Iceland? Your rights if you have a holiday booked
11:15 , Tara Cobham
The earth is at its most restless in Iceland right now. The Reykjanes peninsula, southwest of Reykjavik, is seething with seismic activity sparking hundreds of small earthquakes.
The town of Grindavík, just 10 miles south of Keflavik International Airport, has been evacuated as a precaution.
Yet flights are continuing to arrive and depart as normal. These are the key questions and answers on consumer rights.
Simon Calder, Travel Correspondent reports:
Is it safe to travel to Iceland? Your rights if you have a holiday booked
What to do with Grindavík: Has Iceland’s #1 selfie spot just emerged out of the ground?
10:29 , Barney Davis in Grindavík
From the spectacular Northern Lights to the stunning waters of Blue Lagoon, Iceland is certainly not short of tourist attractions.
But the country may have found another spot for tourists to take selfies in front of, after the small harbour town of Grindavík was hit by thousands of earthquakes.
As fears of an imminent volcanic eruption subside, the town is looking at how best to recover after streets were torn up and residents fled for safety.
The crater left behind in the wake of the chaos spreads from a Lutheran church and nursery all the way through a children’s playground and underneath the fabled Grindavík basketball team’s plush new stadium with the season about to start.
Read more here:
Iceland’s new #1 selfie spot may have emerged out of ground despite volcano threat
In pictures: On the ground in Grindavik
09:45 , Tara Cobham
Is it safe to travel to Iceland? Your rights if you have a holiday booked
09:00 , Stuti Mishra
The earth is at its most restless in Iceland right now. The Reykjanes peninsula, southwest of Reykjavik, is seething with seismic activity sparking hundreds of small earthquakes.
The town of Grindavík, just 10 miles south of Keflavik International Airport, has been evacuated as a precaution.
Yet flights are continuing to arrive and depart as normal.
Read more below.
Is it safe to travel to Iceland? Your rights if you have a holiday booked
Family scared of returning home after earthquakes: ‘We need a stable home’
08:00 , Stuti Mishra
A Grindavik couple have refused to return to their home deeming it not safe enough to raise their new baby after the 5.2 magnitude earthquake rocked the Icelandic fishing town.
Guðjón and his wife Ayça EriÅkin, who had their first child on Wednesday, said they had decided not to go back to Grindavik despite setting up their family home there.
Read more:
People refuse to return to Iceland town rocked by earthquake: ‘We need a stable home’
ICYMI: ‘Fountain of lava’ will be produced if the Fagradalsfjall volcano erupts
07:00 , Matt Mathers
“A fountain of lava” will be produced if the Fagradalsfjall volcano erupts, an expert has said.
Bill McGuire, UCL professor of climate hazards, told Metro that it’s also possible the volcano will not erupt.
‘The number of quakes has dropped by around 90% since the peak,” he said. ”But this just means that the rising magma has stopped breaking rock.
“It may already have opened up the fractures it needs to reach the surface, and continuing uplift in the area suggests that magma could be steadily moving upwards prior to eruption.
“Having said this, it is still possible that magma pressure from below will not be sufficient to push it to the surface, in which case it could solidify beneath ground, with no eruption.”
ICYMI: Iceland earthquake - Town of Grindavik could be obliterated if volcanic eruption strikes
06:00 , Matt Mathers
A volcanic eruption could destroy the Icelandic town of Grindavik or lead to extensive ash clouds, experts have warned.
The country has been shaken by more than 2,000 small earthquakes in the past few days, prompting fears that the tremors could disrupt the Fagradalsfjall volcano on the Reykjanes peninsula in the southwest of the country.
Full report:
Iceland earthquake: Town could be obliterated if volcanic eruption strikes
Inside the abandoned Iceland town left in limbo by a volcano
05:06 , Stuti Mishra
"A sense of trepidation builds on the coach as we are waved through the roadblock that has held back people from returning to the Icelandic town of Grindavik amid an “imminent” volcanic eruption warning.
But the volunteer rescue forces posted on guard duty in battering 32mph winds have to follow the strict instructions of Iceland’s tourist minister. There is a lot of high-speed arguing in Icelandic, and eventually we pass through.
The coach is carrying the world’s media for the first time since the initial 5.2-magnitude earthquake gripped the globe’s attention. But after days of stalemate, fears of Iceland’s economy tanking, and rumours spreading of the entire country disappearing beneath the Atlantic, the government has reluctantly allowed the press to visit the site."
Read more from Barney Davis here:
Inside the abandoned Iceland town left in limbo by a volcano
ICYMI: Iceland earthquake locations revealed as volcano eruption alert issued
04:00 , Matt Mathers
Iceland is experiencing a seismic swarm as 2800 earthquakes have hit the country in just 48 hours prompting fears of a volcanic eruption.
Most tremours have been felt in the Reykjanes peninsula in the southwest of the country where small earthquakes have been felt every day for more than two weeks due to a build-up of volcanic magma three miles underground.
Lydia Patrick reports:
Mapped: Iceland earthquake locations revealed as volcano eruption alert issued
Are flights still running amid fears of volcano eruption?
02:00 , Matt Mathers
Iceland has declared a state of emergency after hundreds of earthquakes struck the southwestern Reykjanes peninsula in the past 48 hours.
Despite fears of an impending volcanic eruption, flights from the UK to Keflavik international airport 10 miles north of the eruption site are going ahead as usual.
Simon Calder and Lydia Patrick report:
Iceland earthquakes: Are flights still running amid fears over volcano eruption?
ICYMI: ‘It’s like a dystopian movie’ - Iceland residents describe ‘apocalyptic’ scenes as they flee volcano threat
00:01 , Matt Mathers
Residents from a small Icelandic town under threat from a volcanic eruption have described their ‘apocalyptic’ existence as they fear for their future.
Last Friday, thousands of Grindavik residents were ordered to leave as the town was rocked by hundreds of earthquakes. The small fishing town is 34 miles from Reykjavík and is home to the famous tourist attraction the Blue Lagoon.
Lydia Patrick reports:
Iceland residents describe ‘apocalyptic’ scenes as they flee volcano threat
Tourists urged to check official advice before travelling to Iceland
22:50 , Matt Mathers
British tourists considering travelling to Iceland are being told to check official guidance in Iceland before making the trip.
The Foreign Office says travellers should seek advice from the Icelandic Met Office, Safe Travel Iceland and the Almannavarnadeild Facebook page and Twitter (@almannavarnir).
The guidance was issued on 11 November following earthquakes in southwest Iceland and remains in place.
ICYMI: When will the Iceland volcano erupt and what happens when it does?
20:00 , Matt Mathers
As an imminent eruption looms thousands of Iceland residents await their fate as their town could be wiped out within days.
Thousands of earthquakes rocked the southwestern peninsula of Reykjanes on Saturday 11 November leading semi-molten rock to ravage below the surface as the tremors caused a 15km long dyke to form, cracking the community in two as the ground was pushed upwards.
Lydia Patrick reports:
When will the Iceland volcano erupt and what happens when it does?
‘Fountain of lava’ if volcano erupts
19:02 , Matt Mathers
“A fountain of lava” will be produced if the Fagradalsfjall volcano erupts, an expert has said.
Bill McGuire, UCL professor of climate hazards, told Metro that it’s also possible the volcano will not erupt.
‘The number of quakes has dropped by around 90% since the peak,” he said. ”But this just means that the rising magma has stopped breaking rock.
“It may already have opened up the fractures it needs to reach the surface, and continuing uplift in the area suggests that magma could be steadily moving upwards prior to eruption.
“Having said this, it is still possible that magma pressure from below will not be sufficient to push it to the surface, in which case it could solidify beneath ground, with no eruption.”
Every resident of an Icelandic town was evacuated due to a volcano. Daring rescuers went back to save the pets
17:07 , Matt Mathers
Cats, dogs, hamsters and even hens were at the centre of rescue efforts, reports Barney Davis from Iceland.
Read the full report here:
Rescue effort to save pets left behind in Iceland town evacuated by volcano threat
Recap: Watch as roads crack across Grindavik
15:30 , Tara Cobham
Inside the abandoned Iceland town left in limbo by a volcano
14:38 , Barney Davis in Grindavik
A sense of trepidation builds on the coach as we are waved through the roadblock that has held back people from returning to the Icelandic town of Grindavik amid an “imminent” volcanic eruption warning.
But the volunteer rescue forces posted on guard duty in battering 32mph winds have to follow the strict instructions of Iceland’s tourist minister. There is a lot of high-speed arguing in Icelandic, and eventually we pass through.
The coach is carrying the world’s media for the first time since the initial 5.2-magnitude earthquake gripped the globe’s attention. But after days of stalemate, fears of Iceland’s economy tanking, and rumours spreading of the entire country disappearing beneath the Atlantic, the government has reluctantly allowed the press to visit the site.
Read more here:
Inside the abandoned Iceland town left in limbo by a volcano
Grindavik earthquake risk lowered from emergency to danger level on Thursday
12:37 , Tara Cobham
As a result of a decrease in activity since the start of the week, the risk level related to earthquakes in Grindavik was lowered from emergency to danger level on Thursday, Iceland’s civil defence authority said in a statement.
Five ministers from the Icelandic parliament visited Grindavik on Friday, where evacuated residents have been allowed back since Thursday to pick up more personal belongings.
But it will be months before they all are able to move back to Grindavik due to infrastructure damage, Icelandic media RUV quoted public safety director Vidir Reynisson as saying.
Met Office issues magma warning as likelihood of imminent eruption remains
12:02 , Tara Cobham
A warning over the risks of emerging magma and the persistent likelihood of an imminent eruption of the Icelandic volcano has been issued by the country’s Met Office.
In its latest update, the forecaster warned: “The likelihood of a volcanic eruption at some location along the length of the magma intrusion persists.” It added that the area between Hagafell and Sýlingarfell still faces the possibility that “magma could emerge”.
A fortnight ago, Grindavik was evacuated after magma-induced seismic activity tore vast chasms through the streets of the town. While hundreds of earthquakes are still hitting the surrounding area daily, “seismic activity continues to decrease”, said the Icelandic Met Office, adding: “The likelihood of an imminent volcanic eruption diminishes with time.”
Daring residents who went back to save pets from evacuated Icelandic town
11:26 , Barney Davis in Iceland
Hundreds of pets have been rescued from Iceland’s town of Grindavik, after they were separated from their owners over threats of an imminent volcanic eruption.
Charities have taken part in a number of rescue efforts in a bid to save animals in the town with rescuers returning to look for animals.
Cats, dogs, hamsters and even hens were at the centre of rescue efforts after many were left behind following evacuation orders which gave residents minutes to leave. Over 4,000 people were evacuated.
Read more here:
Rescue effort to save pets left behind in Iceland town evacuated by volcano threat
In pictures: The chaos caused by the Iceland volcano
10:16 , Tara Cobham
Watch: Residents come back to clear out unstable homes in Grindavik
09:31 , Tara Cobham
Iceland remains on eruption alert as seismic activity wanes
08:48 , Tara Cobham
Icelandic authorities said on Friday they were still on alert for a volcanic eruption in the southwest Reykjanes peninsula, although the odds were falling after a drop in seismic activity.
Iceland has been living with a high risk of an eruption since seismic activity and underground lava flows increased in the region near the capital Reykjavik in late October.
The Metrological Office said in a statement that an eruption in or near the evacuated town of Grindavik was now seen as less likely and that volcanic magma is most likely to rise in the area between Hagafell and Sýlingarfell.
"Seismic activity continues to decrease," it said, adding that "the likelihood of eruption decreases over time".
Five ministers from the Icelandic parliament visited Grindavik on Friday, where evacuated residents have been allowed back since Thursday to pick up more personal belongings.
But it will be months before they all are able to move back to Grindavik due to infrastructure damage, Icelandic media RUV quoted public safety director Vidir Reynisson as saying.
As a result of a decrease in activity since the start of the week, the risk level related to earthquakes in Grindavik was lowered from emergency to danger level on Thursday, Iceland's civil defence authority said in a statement.
Inside the abandoned Iceland town left in limbo by a volcano
05:00 , Alexander Butler
A sense of trepidation builds on the coach as we are waved through the roadblock that has held back people from returning to the Icelandic town of Grindavik amid an “imminent” volcanic eruption warning.
But the volunteer rescue forces posted on guard duty in battering 32mph winds have to follow the strict instructions of Iceland’s tourist minister. There is a lot of high-speed arguing in Icelandic, and eventually we pass through.
The coach is carrying the world’s media for the first time since the initial 5.2-magnitude earthquake gripped the globe’s attention. But after days of stalemate, fears of Iceland’s economy tanking, and rumours spreading of the entire country disappearing beneath the Atlantic, the government has reluctantly allowed the press to visit the site.
Inside the abandoned Iceland town left in limbo by a volcano
Is it safe to travel to Iceland? Your rights if you have a holiday booked
04:00 , Alexander Butler
The earth is at its most restless in Iceland right now. The Reykjanes peninsula, southwest of Reykjavik, is seething with seismic activity sparking hundreds of small earthquakes.
The town of Grindavík, just 10 miles south of Keflavik International Airport, has been evacuated as a precaution.
Yet flights are continuing to arrive and depart as normal. These are the key questions and answers on consumer rights.
Is it safe to travel to Iceland? Your rights if you have a holiday booked
When will the Iceland volcano erupt and what happens when it does?
03:00 , Alexander Butler
As an imminent eruption looms thousands of Iceland residents await their fate as their town could be wiped out within days.
Thousands of earthquakes rocked the southwestern peninsula of Reykjanes on Saturday 11 November leading semi-molten rock to ravage below the surface as the tremors caused a 15km long dyke to form, cracking the community in two as the ground was pushed upwards.
Some 3,400 residents from the town of Grindavik which lies on the path of the expected fissure vent eruption were forced to evacuate, they described the ‘apocalyptic’ scenes of their much-loved home town as they briefly returned to collect their belongings.
When will the Iceland volcano erupt and what happens when it does?
‘It’s like a dystopian movie’: Iceland residents describe ‘apocalyptic’ scenes as they flee volcano threat
01:00 , Alexander Butler
Residents from a small Icelandic town under threat from a volcanic eruption have described their ‘apocalyptic’ existence as they fear for their future.
Last Friday, thousands of Grindavik residents were ordered to leave as the town was rocked by hundreds of earthquakes. The small fishing town is 34 miles from Reykjavík and is home to the famous tourist attraction the Blue Lagoon.
Many have been unable to return to the ‘danger zone’ to collect their belongings, as earthquakes continue to strike the town.
Iceland residents describe ‘apocalyptic’ scenes as they flee volcano threat
Every resident of an Icelandic town was evacuated due to a volcano. Daring rescuers went back to save the pets
00:00 , Alexander Butler
Hundreds of pets have been rescued from Iceland’s town of Grindavik, after they were separated from their owners over threats of an imminent volcanic eruption.
Charities have taken part in a number of rescue efforts in a bid to save animals in the town with rescuers returning to look for animals.
Cats, dogs, hamsters and even hens were at the centre of rescue efforts after many were left behind following evacuation orders which gave residents minutes to leave. Over 4,000 people were evacuated.
Rescue effort to save pets left behind in Iceland town evacuated by volcano threat
ICYMI: Iceland residents fleeing imminent volcanic eruption told they face months away from home
Friday 24 November 2023 18:00 , Matt Mathers
Experts have revealed the likely eruption site of a volcano in Iceland, as authorities warn evacuees they may not return home for months.
Iceland has seen more than 1,700 earthquakes in the last 24 hours, according to the country’s Met Office, with most of the activity north of Hagafell.
Athena Stavrou reports:
Iceland officials reveal where volcano will likely erupt
Iceland volcano could erupt like a ‘can of fizzy drink’
Friday 24 November 2023 16:00 , Matt Mathers
A volcano close to erupting in Iceland could explode like a “can of fizzy drink,” an expert has said.
Iceland’s Met Office has said magmatic gas has been detected at a borehole in Svartsengi, signalling an imminent eruption of the Fagradalsfjall volcano over the coming days, with the town of Grindavik most at risk.
Full report:
Iceland volcano could erupt like a ‘can of fizzy drink’
Chances of eruption in Grindavik ‘low’ and ‘decreasing daily' - Iceland Met Office
Friday 24 November 2023 14:27 , Matt Mathers
The chances of an eruption in Grindavik are “low” and “decreasing daily”, Iceland’s Met Office has said.
However, there remains a “plausible” chance of a volcanic eruption between Hagafell and Sýlingarfell.
“Based on the latest data, and considering the evolution of activity since 10 November, the likelihood of a sudden eruption within the Grindavík urban area is decreasing daily, and it is presently assessed as low,” the IMO states.
“It can be assumed that newly emplaced magma beneath Grindavík has solidified partially, thereby reducing the likelihood that the magma will reach the surface within the city limits.
“However, we emphasize that the possibility of a volcanic eruption at some point along the length of the intrusion, particularly between Hagafell and Sýlingarfell, remains plausible.”
When will the Iceland volcano erupt and what happens when it does?
Friday 24 November 2023 13:27 , Matt Mathers
As an imminent eruption looms thousands of Iceland residents await their fate as their town could be wiped out within days.
Thousands of earthquakes rocked the southwestern peninsula of Reykjanes on Saturday 11 November leading semi-molten rock to ravage below the surface as the tremors caused a 15km long dyke to form, cracking the community in two as the ground was pushed upwards.
Lydia Patrick reports:
When will the Iceland volcano erupt and what happens when it does?
Iceland braces for ‘imminent’ volcanic eruption with just 30 minutes warning
Friday 24 November 2023 12:30 , Matt Mathers
Iceland watches on helplessly as rescue workers escorting locals back to the evacuated fishing town of Grindavik say it is “now a waiting game” before an eruption.
Gripped viewers are glued to main TV News channel RUV.is as it plays a live stream of the glowing crater with modern Icelandic electronic music underneath as the countdown continued on Tuesday.
Barney Davis reports from Iceland:
Iceland glued to ‘imminent’ volcano eruption amid 30 minute warning
Is it safe to travel to Iceland? Your rights if you have a holiday booked
Friday 24 November 2023 11:49 , Matt Mathers
The earth is at its most restless in Iceland right now. The Reykjanes peninsula, southwest of Reykjavik, is seething with seismic activity sparking hundreds of small earthquakes.
The town of Grindavík, just 10 miles south of Keflavik International Airport, has been evacuated as a precaution.
Yet flights are continuing to arrive and depart as normal. These are the key questions and answers on consumer rights.
I am in Iceland. Will I be able to leave? Simon Calder reports:
Is it safe to travel to Iceland? Your rights if you have a holiday booked
Every resident of an Icelandic town was evacuated due to a volcano. Daring rescuers went back to save the pets
Friday 24 November 2023 10:45 , Matt Mathers
Cats, dogs, hamsters and even hens were at the centre of rescue efforts, reports Barney Davis from Iceland.
Read Barney’s full report here:
Rescue effort to save pets left behind in Iceland town evacuated by volcano threat
ICYMI: Inside the abandoned Iceland town left in limbo by a volcano
Friday 24 November 2023 08:35 , Matt Mathers
A sense of trepidation builds on the coach as we are waved through the roadblock that has held back people from returning to the Icelandic town of Grindavik amid an “imminent” volcanic eruption warning.
But the volunteer rescue forces posted on guard duty in battering 32mph winds have to follow the strict instructions of Iceland’s tourist minister. There is a lot of high-speed arguing in Icelandic, and eventually we pass through.
Barney Davis reports from Grindavik:
Inside the abandoned Iceland town left in limbo by a volcano
Businesses operating in Grindavik to receive housing assistance
Friday 24 November 2023 06:01 , Alexander Butler
Companies and businesses operating in the small fishing town of Grindavik would be able to request assistance in finding housing.
Companies are urged to register information related to their business on the website island.is/grindavik.
They have been asked to fill in the minimum requirement in square metres and the “number of employees at the company that need work facilities on the premises”.
Iceland residents fleeing imminent volcanic eruption told they face months away from home
Friday 24 November 2023 05:01 , Alexander Butler
At a Civil Defence briefing last week, director Víðir Reynisson said there was significant damage to houses and pipes in the evacuated town of Grindavik, my colleague Athena Stavrou reports.
The fishing town has been the most affected area in Iceland, as the magma tunnel snakes beneath the ground leaving huge cracks in roads.
While the eruption is most likely to happen in Hagafell, there is a possibility that it could happen anywhere along the magma tunnel.
Mr Reynisson said: “This plus uncertainty about earthquakes means that residents have to prepare to live elsewhere in the coming months.”
Locals have been permitted to briefly enter their homes for five minutes this week to collect their valuables and pets but need prior authorisation.
Iceland officials reveal where volcano will likely erupt
Owners of over 100 properties allowed to enter Grindavik briefly
Friday 24 November 2023 04:01 , Alexander Butler
The owners of more than 100 properties were allowed to enter Grindavik briefly to collect their belongings that were left behind during the evacuation last week.
Nearly 4,000 residents of the small fishing town were evacuated after a swarm of earthquakes triggered a volcano eruption warning.
All the residents were asked to arrive at a meeting point outside Grindavik, following which they were escorted into the town and back by security personnel.
Iceland volcano could erupt like a ‘can of fizzy drink’
Friday 24 November 2023 03:01 , Alexander Butler
A volcano close to erupting in Iceland could explode like a “can of fizzy drink,” an expert has said.
Iceland’s Met Office has said magmatic gas has been detected at a borehole in Svartsengi, signalling an imminent eruption of the Fagradalsfjall volcano over the coming days, with the town of Grindavik most at risk.
The small fishing town has already been evacuated following thousands of mini earthquakes across the Reykjanes peninsula, southwest Iceland, over the past week.
Iceland volcano could erupt like a ‘can of fizzy drink’
When will the Iceland volcano erupt and what happens when it does?
Friday 24 November 2023 02:01 , Alexander Butler
As an imminent eruption looms thousands of Iceland residents await their fate as their town could be wiped out within days.
Thousands of earthquakes rocked the southwestern peninsula of Reykjanes on Saturday 11 November leading semi-molten rock to ravage below the surface as the tremors caused a 15km long dyke to form, cracking the community in two as the ground was pushed upwards.
Some 3,400 residents from the town of Grindavik which lies on the path of the expected fissure vent eruption were forced to evacuate, they described the ‘apocalyptic’ scenes of their much-loved home town as they briefly returned to collect their belongings.
When will the Iceland volcano erupt and what happens when it does?
Is it safe to travel to Iceland? Your rights if you have a holiday booked
Friday 24 November 2023 01:01 , Alexander Butler
The earth is at its most restless in Iceland right now. The Reykjanes peninsula, southwest of Reykjavik, is seething with seismic activity sparking hundreds of small earthquakes.
The town of Grindavík, just 10 miles south of Keflavik International Airport, has been evacuated as a precaution.
Yet flights are continuing to arrive and depart as normal. These are the key questions and answers on consumer rights.
Is it safe to travel to Iceland? Your rights if you have a holiday booked
Icelandic authorities consider plan to pump water on to lava if volcano erupts
Friday 24 November 2023 00:01 , Alexander Butler
Icelandic authorities are considering a plan to pump water on to lava in the event of a volcanic eruption that has been looming over the town of Grindavík for several weeks.
Authorities would use the water to cool and divert the flow of lava to protect the fishing port of 4,000 people on Iceland’s southern Reykjanes peninsula.
Residents were evacuated from Grindavík on 11 November after magma shifting under the Earth’s crust caused hundreds of earthquakes – a warning of a likely volcanic eruption – and thousands of smaller tremors have shaken the region since.
Inside the abandoned Iceland town left in limbo by a volcano
Thursday 23 November 2023 23:00 , Alexander Butler
A sense of trepidation builds on the coach as we are waved through the roadblock that has held back people from returning to the Icelandic town of Grindavik amid an “imminent” volcanic eruption warning, Barney Davis reports from Reykjavik.
But the volunteer rescue forces posted on guard duty in battering 32mph winds have to follow the strict instructions of Iceland’s tourist minister. There is a lot of high-speed arguing in Icelandic, and eventually we pass through.
The coach is carrying the world’s media for the first time since the initial 5.2-magnitude earthquake gripped the globe’s attention.
Inside the abandoned Iceland town left in limbo by a volcano
Iceland braces for ‘imminent’ volcanic eruption with just 30 minutes warning
Thursday 23 November 2023 21:45 , Alexander Butler
Iceland watches on helplessly as rescue workers escorting locals back to the evacuated fishing town of Grindavik say it is “now a waiting game” before an eruption, Barney Davis reports from Reykjavík.
Gripped viewers are glued to main TV News channel RUV.is as it plays a live stream of the glowing crater with modern Icelandic electronic music underneath as the countdown continued on Tuesday.
It comes as 1,200 households scramble to grab as many “heartfelt” objects as they can under observation from rescue teams from the town above the volatile Reykjanes Peninsula.
Iceland glued to ‘imminent’ volcano eruption amid 30 minute warning
