In Grindavik A kilometer-long black bed of solidified lava spreads out. Sunday's eruption is said to be the most dangerous Iceland has seen in more than 50 years, and authorities are warning against it The danger has not yet been averted.
“We are probably just witnessing the beginning of an event that will continue to be difficult to manage,” he says. Vidir ReynissonHead of Icelandic Civil Defense.
At 6:57 a.m. on Sunday morning, a bright light breaks the darkness of the night on the outskirts of Grindavik. The volcanic eruption is a fact and in the next few hours the lava will reach the city and destroy several houses.
Hrannar Jon Emilsson He was one of those who saw his house being swallowed by lava through a live broadcast. “It’s quite surreal to see your family home disappear. I’m still trying to digest what’s happening.”
The eruption near Grindavik appears to have stopped completely, public television Rúv reports. Along the volcano's northern fissure, lava is coming from only two of the four vents that formed Sunday morning.
But several experts warn that the situation remains uncertain. Intensive work is currently underway to strengthen the protective dikes around Grindavik and the access roads to the city will remain closed for a long time.
The second eruption in just a month on the Reykjanes Peninsula began early Sunday and images taken this Monday morning show an apparent cessation of lava flows. Surface activity now appears to be lower as seismographs have recorded more than 700 low-intensity earthquakes.
The government has limited the impact of this eruption to the city of Grindavik, which had already been evacuated in November due to the threat of the first earth fission. The authorities have made it clear that the current emergency does not pose a threat to the population and has no impact on air traffic.
The anticipation also led to the construction of barriers to protect Grindavik, home to around 4,000 people, which have proven to be “really useful”, the geophysicist explained. K Ristin Jonsdottir in statements to Bloomberg.
The Prime Minister, Katrin Jakobsdottir, has stated that they will continue to increase this type of protection and do “everything possible” so that the lava does not bury any part of the city. Jakobsdottir has made helping evacuated residents a priority and advocated for a reassessment of damage in the area after the second eruption.
