It reports the Icelandic newspaper Visor.
The eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula near Reykjavik has been long awaited, but has now started, the country’s meteorological institute states.
The Coast Guard has sent a helicopter to the volcano at Fagradalsfjall, which is now erupting.
All air traffic to and from Keflavik Airport is closed, the Meteorological Institute states.
Fears volcanic eruption after 17,000 earthquakes
Scientists on the way
– The civil defense encourages people not to get close to the outbreak. It is important to keep the area safe. Researchers are now working to assess the situation, the Icelandic Ministry of Emergency Management writes on Twitter.
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A helicopter from the Coast Guard with two scientists on board is on its way to make an inspection, writes Morgunbladid.
– All the main roads in the area have been closed so that people do not get too close. It is important that people stay calm for the first few hours to see how this develops further, says Davíð Már Bjarnason in the rescue service to the newspaper.
Fagradalsfjall is not far from the Blue Lagoon. It was expected in advance that if an eruption were to take place, it would occur in a seismic fissure between Fagradalsfjall and Keilir Mountain. This is a moon-like landscape and is an uninhabited area. An outbreak is therefore not considered to be a threat to people’s lives, writes NTB.
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A series of earthquakes
It will probably be a limited lava eruption and with relatively little ash, geophysicist Páll Einarsson at the University of Iceland told AFP earlier this month.
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The two mountains at the eruption are located in the Krýsuvík area – a place where there have been no eruptions since the 12th century. The last eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula was in the year 1240.
In recent weeks, Iceland has been on standby after a series of earthquakes were registered in the area, linked to growing underground magma currents. there are thousands of small earthquakes in a few weeks, according to the Meteorological Institute.
Iceland has 32 volcanic systems that are considered active. On average, the country has an outbreak every five years.
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