Late Monday, a volcano on the Reykjanes peninsula decided it was time to make a dramatic appearance, exploding. What’s more, guess what? A potential gas pollution concern lurks above Reykjavik and the captivating lava show.
Volcano eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula
After weeks of violent earthquakes and tremors, the volcano on the Reykjanes peninsula in southwest Iceland is doing its thing. Due to the lava’s alarming approach, some 4,000 people from the fishing village of Grindavik were given a front-row ticket to the evacuation performance last month.
The molten spectacle’s fumes could reach Reykjavik by Tuesday evening or Wednesday early. Yes, gas pollution is pounding on the capital’s door. We’re not discussing a pleasant fragrance of volcanic freshness here; we’re discussing potential health risks.
On Monday night, one brave resident in Grindavik described the scenes as “crazy” and “scary.” And, believe it or not, she could still see the volcano erupting on Tuesday. The odor of smoke and ash has traveled up to 30 kilometers from the eruption site. Our BBC team even noticed some earth vibrations. Consider nature’s surround sound.
Iceland has been on edge for some time. Since late October, Reykjavik and its surroundings have danced with heightened earthquake activity, hinting about a volcanic encore.
If you’re in Reykjavik, half of the sky is painted crimson. That’s thanks to the eruption from the capital, around 42 kilometers northeast of Grindavik. Amrit and Peter, two daring British visitors, casually shoot pictures with the brilliant orange lava in the background. They are not afraid, however, because the Icelandic authorities are keeping them informed.
Now, we face the elephant in the volcanic room: the 2010 ash cloud. But don’t worry, dear readers. Dr. Evgenia Ilyinskaya, a volcanologist, assures us that this eruption will not cause the same level of air travel disruption. These southwestern Icelandic volcanoes need to be built for those huge ash clouds.
Local authorities are preparing for potential lava flows, which might sadly destroy homes and even the beautiful Blue Lagoon. Dr. Ilyinskaya, a volcanologist at Leeds University, tells us that things appear to be under control for the time being, but who knows what nature has in store?