facebooktwittertelegramwhatsapp
copy short urlprintemail
+ A
A -
Qatar tribune

Lava flows have slowed in south-west Iceland following a volcanic eruption that has destroyed several homes.

A volcano on the Reykjanes peninsula erupted on Sunday, spilling molten rock into the town of Grindavik. The local population was evacuated.

Defences built after an eruption in December were breached in places, setting houses on fire. But by Monday the flow had almost stopped.

There is no danger to the rest of Iceland, officials say.

Dr Matthew Roberts of the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) told the BBC that the situation near Grindavik had “very much eased” on Monday.

He added that micro-earthquakes - which are not commonly felt by people - were still happening, but their number and intensity were decreasing.

However, many Grindavik residents have been left shaken by the eruption. “Seeing your home burn down on live television is something you cannot easily handle,” Unndor Sigurthsson told the MBL news website.

She said her family had left almost all their belongings when they were evacuated, leaving them only with clothes and essential items.

There has been no disruption to domestic or international flights. The IMO’s aviation colour code for the Reykjanes peninsula was orange on Monday morning, indicating an ongoing eruption with “no or minor ash emission”. President Gudni Johannesson urged people to “stand together and have compassion for those who cannot be in their homes”.

copy short url   Copy
16/01/2024
10