Volcanoes - Icelandic Foreign Minister: Volcanic eruption inspires awe
According to Foreign Minister Bjarni Benediktsson, the volcanic eruption in Iceland could last even longer. "Fortunately, there is no danger to life at the moment. The airport is open," he told the British television station Sky News on Tuesday evening. The Icelandic Meteorological Office announced during the night that there was a risk of further vents opening up along the fissure. Overall, however, the eruptions had weakened.
A volcanic eruption occurred in the southwest of Iceland on Monday night, after the port town of Grindavík had already been evacuated a few weeks ago as a precaution. Over the course of the night, a kilometer-long fissure formed, from which around 100 to 200 cubic meters of lava flowed per second. According to eyewitness reports, the lava shot up 200 meters at the beginning of the eruption. The lava fountains are now no longer as high.
The eruption southwest of the Icelandic capital Reykjavík had been a long time coming. A series of earthquakes had been measured in the area since October. Such earthquakes have also heralded volcanic eruptions in the past. However, seismic activity had recently decreased again. Residents were allowed back into their homes during the day, but were not allowed to stay overnight. The Blue Lagoon geothermal baths, which are extremely popular with tourists, were also reopened at the weekend following a temporary closure.
Gases currently pose no danger
These things are unpredictable, Benediktsson said about the eruption on Monday. However, the lava is not flowing towards the city. "We were worried about the infrastructure," he said. There is an important power plant there, but they had already erected a protective barrier in recent weeks. He was also asked about gas rising from the volcanic eruption. This currently poses no danger to the population because the wind is good. "But we are monitoring it closely."
It is unclear what will happen next. "I'm not a scientist, but they tell us that it could go on for weeks or possibly months," Benediktsson told the TV station. The outbreak is bigger than the ones they have experienced in the past three years. They now hoped that the lava flow would slow down, cool down and stop so that people could return as soon as possible, but that would not happen before Christmas.
Eruptions "incredibly beautiful"
Pictures from Iceland showed red masses of lava making their way. You don't get used to these eruptions, Benediktsson said in the interview. "We also find them incredibly beautiful. And you are in awe when you see the earth opening up and the fire and smoke rising."
The volcanic eruption near Grindavík is the fourth in the past three years on the Reykjanes Peninsula. Just this summer, a fissure opened up in the area and lava spewed out of it. The natural spectacle attracted many onlookers.
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- Despite the Foreign Minister's concerns, many tourists were still drawn to the spectacle of the volcanic eruption in Iceland, finding it "incredibly beautiful" and awe-inspiring.
- In the aftermath of the eruption in Grindavík, Sky News reported live from Reykjavík, the Icelandic capital, where residents expressed mixed feelings about the event, with some expressing happiness at the natural spectacle while others were anxious about potential dangers.
- A voluntary evacuation was ordered for residents living near the volcano in London's sister city, Grindavík, as the earthquakes and risk of further vents opening up had caused concerns about the safety of homes and infrastructure.
- On a happier note, the Blue Lagoon geothermal baths in Reykjavík, which had closed temporarily due to the eruption, reopened for business over the weekend, attracting tourists eager to soak in the warm waters, away from the chilly Icelandic weather.
- While the volcanic eruption and subsequent earthquakes had caused some disruptions, such as the temporary closure of the Blue Lagoon and the evacuation of Grindavík, the airport in Reykjavík had remained open, allowing happy travelers to continue their trips around the world.
- The geothermal energy generated by the volcanic activity in Grindavík had also provided a silver lining, ensuring that the city's power plant remained operational and supplying electricity to the surrounding areas, including Island and Reykjavík, contributing to the overall happiness and well-being of the community.
Source: www.stern.de
