One of the most disturbing volcanic eruptions in Iceland’s recent history occurred in 2010, when Eyjafjallajokull released a panel of ash so vast that it grounded air traffic for weeks.
Photographer: Etienne De Malglaive / Getty Images
Photographer: Etienne De Malglaive / Getty Images
Residents of the Icelandic capital, Reykjavik, were asked to prepare for a possible volcanic eruption in the next few hours or days, although authorities said there was no indication that the event posed a threat to life or human property.
The Icelandic Met Office said a volcanic area near the capital should release lava slowly in the next few weeks, with development likely to trigger earthquakes of the magnitude of up to 6.5 on the Richter scale.
The event would be unlikely to affect air traffic, the office said, although flights within a radius of 120 kilometers (75 miles) could suffer some disruption.
One of the most disturbing volcanic eruptions in Iceland’s recent history occurred in 2010, when Eyjafjallajokull released a panel of ash so vast that it grounded air traffic for weeks.
Iceland, which has 30 volcanic systems and more than 600 hot springs, is located on tectonic plates on the mid-Atlantic ridge, making it one of the most active geological sites on the planet.