Iceland state of emergency: Warning volcanic eruption ‘could obliterate Grindavik’ as residents flee

If the Fagradalsfjall volcano erupts on the Reykjanes peninsula, it might be worse than the Vestmannaeyjar eruption 50 years in the past which destroyed the city, volcanologist Ármann Höskuldsson informed RUV.

Ragga Ágústdóttir who lives near Grinvadik warned of the likelihood the ‘city might be destroyed’.

“The situation on the desk now could be that it’ll occur in or simply north of the city of Grindavik. There’s no good choice right here,” she mentioned.

“We’re actually involved about all the homes and the infrastructure within the space,” Vidir Reynisson, head of Iceland’s Civil Safety and Emergency Administration informed AFP.

Iceland is experiencing a seismic swarm as 1,485 earthquakes have hit the nation in simply 48 hours prompting fears of a volcanic eruption.

Most tremours have been felt within the Reykjanes peninsula within the southwest of the nation the place small earthquakes have been felt every single day for greater than two weeks as a consequence of a build-up of volcanic magma three miles underground.

Hundreds have been informed to evacuate the city of Grindavik as a precautionary measure as a magma tunnel stretches under the floor.

Hundreds of earthquakes have left behind a path of destruction within the Icelandic city of Grindavik.

Massive cracks have shaped on the concrete roads and on golf programs, in response to the native media.

Regardless of fears of an impending volcanic eruption, flights from the UK to Keflavik worldwide airport 10 miles north of the eruption web site are going forward as traditional.

The primary of 14 scheduled flights on Saturday from the UK took off with out incident from London’s Luton Airport at 6.32am and landed at 9.33am at Keflavik worldwide airport, about 10 miles north of the eruption web site.

The 7.40am flight from Manchester airport additionally safely arrived at Keflavik worldwide airport at 10.30am.

Simon Calder and Lydia Patrick report.

The scenario in Grindavik continues to change into grave with the passing days, MP Gisli Olafsson mentioned in a put up.

He claimed that scientists consider the magma intrusion might doubtlessly flip into an 8-12km lengthy fissure vent eruption with in depth quantities of lava move.

“There’s additionally an opportunity that the eruption will open up beneath the ocean outdoors of Grindavik, leading to an explosive eruption with in depth clouds,” the MP mentioned.

Whereas the vast majority of the evacuated Grindavik residents had been staying with their households, not less than 200 individuals had been at Crimson Cross shelters.

“It’s actually humbling to see the nation come collectively as one in these tough occasions,” he mentioned.

Iceland’s civil defence forces on Sunday determined to try to let residents into Grindavik for a short while to gather requirements, in response to public broadcaster RUV.

A closing determination has but to be made on the try, which might be primarily based on whether or not a threat evaluation report finds it secure.

Elisabet Palmadottir, a pure hazard specialist on the Icelandic Met Workplace (IMO), mentioned that seismic exercise was biggest simply northeast of Grindavik on Saturday.

A cupboard assembly has been known as for midday on Sunday, the broadcaster reported.

Animal rights charities are compiling lists of the pets and livestock left behind as hundreds of residents of Grindavik had been ordered to evacuate on Saturday.

In keeping with Iceland’s public broadcaster RUV, the listing consists of cats, horses, rabbits, sheep, and a lot of birds, together with chickens.

There are at present no plans for anybody to be allowed to enter Grindavik on Sunday, which means the animals might be left with out meals and water in addition to being uncovered to the continued risk of an eruption.