It is the police in the region of Sudurnes, which includes the part of the Reykjanes peninsula where the eruption took place, who on Sunday announced that they will close off an area closest to the eruption crater at Geldingadalur by Fagradalsfjall.
The reason is first and foremost that curious visitors come too close to the crack formation after the eruption, and it is uncertain what can happen in the area, writes the Icelandic broadcaster RUV.
– People have put themselves in unnecessary danger, says police chief at Sudurnes, Ulfar Ludviksson, to the broadcaster.
Many hundreds of visitors
Hundreds of people have flocked to the eruption site in recent days to catch a glimpse of the red lava flowing from a crack formation in the ground near Fagradalsfjall.
After about 900 years, there was life on Friday night in a volcanic area about 32 kilometers southwest of Reykjavík. The surrounding area is uninhabited and it takes a long walk in difficult terrain to get there.
Rescue crews have stated that they estimate that around 1000 people went to the area last night. Some had prepared well, while others wore poor clothes or lacked food and drink.
No one has been injured so far, although some have needed help returning to their cars.
Dabber off
The Icelandic Meteorological Institute and the police also warn that the area is unstable and that a number of unforeseen things can happen – which could endanger visitors:
New cracks can open, new lava eruptions can occur which can be difficult to get away from, the craters have become large and can be unstable and break, explosions can occur and blow lava in different directions. Dangerous gases can also be generated.
On Saturday night, the Icelandic Meteorological Institute stated that the extent of the eruption is of a minor nature and that there are no signs of either ash or dust that could create consequences for air traffic.
– We see more and more that this eruption is fading away, says geophysicist Pall Einarsson to AP.
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