Depending on the location, tourists can take a lava tour, fly a helicopter over the caldera, descend the slopes of a volcano, or even hike to the shore of a lava lake. But these efforts are linked with risks. Explosions often produce poisonous gases (such as sulfur dioxide, as in the case of Fagradalsfjall) which can damage the lungs. Between 2010 and 2020, at least 1,143 people died in volcanic eruptions, the most recent of which occurred near New Zealand’s Wakari / White Island volcano. The volcano suddenly erupted on December 9, 2019, killing 22 tourists and injuring 25 others.
However, these deaths seem to have sparked curiosity, rather than hurt tourism. Rather than avoiding volcanic eruptions, excited people were drawn to this disaster area – a trend that is likely to continue after the pandemic.
Volcanic eruptions: What to do in an emergency
Volcanic eruptions are caused by increased magma pressure or shifting of tectonic plates which can also trigger earthquakes. Sometimes glaciers or drifting slowly move the Earth and eventually cause an eruption, and sometimes a sudden landslide is the cause. Volcanic activity of Scientific Observatory They are seen all over the world, so outbreaks rarely come as a surprise.
“If you know some basics, it makes sense to look at volcanic eruptions,” said Rosalie MC Lopez, a volcanologist and planetary geologist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. “We are fortunate to have the most beautiful volcanic eruptions – in Hawaii, Iceland and Stromboli in Italy
Lopez stressed the importance of knowing the type of volcano being visited. Eruptions at specific locations depend on the lava: thin, slowly flowing lava emerges from the volcano, while thick, sticky lava makes it difficult for gases to escape, leading to more explosive (and possibly fatal) eruptions. Knowing what type of lava to deal with can save lives.
–