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The sight is as spectacular as it’s harmful: flowing rivers of shimmering lava and dramatic plumes of toxic fuel.
This picture has been the truth for the previous 4 months in southern Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula, which the nation's tourism web site calls “a geological surprise the place lighthouses outnumber villages.”
A sequence of volcanic eruptions started in December after lots of of earthquakes shook the peninsula, opening a fissure that spewed lava right into a residential neighborhood for the primary time in additional than 4 a long time. Since then the volcanic system has erupted a number of occasions.
Grindavik, a fishing city of greater than 3,500 individuals about 30 miles southwest of the nation's capital Reykjavik, has been evacuated, and the close by Blue Lagoon, a preferred geothermal spa, has been largely closed since early November. Has been completed.
Whereas most life is occurring in the remainder of Iceland, the eruptions have had an affect past the peninsula, disrupting the nation's tourism operations that rely closely on guests.
Icelandair mentioned bookings had been negatively impacted because of the risk of the eruption. In accordance with the airline, the full variety of passengers carried by the airline in February elevated in comparison with final yr, however the variety of individuals flying to Iceland declined by 8 p.c.
Whereas the eruption continues, situations have been “steady” this week, in line with the nation's climate service, the Icelandic Meteorological Workplace. However the service mentioned lava was flowing from three craters in direction of Grindavik.
The explosions additionally produce excessive ranges of fuel air pollution. In accordance with the Met Workplace, the focus of sulfur dioxide within the air is “very unhealthy”, including that “individuals are more likely to expertise respiratory signs if uncovered to it.”
The Blue Lagoon, a spa and lodge complicated in Grindavik, is at the moment closed. It first quickly closed its doorways in November after hundreds of earthquakes struck the area, signaling an impending eruption.
The resort sometimes reopened, however has since been closed for greater than 85 days, the lodge mentioned in an e mail. It’s at the moment on its sixth closing since November 9.
The lava broken a number of homes in Grindavik when it breached a protection wall that was supposed to hold it away from the city.
Throughout town, the earthquake brought about cracks in roads. The cracks within the roads have been full of gravel.
Officers proceed to warn guests to keep away from the blast web site. “The perimeters of the brand new lava subject are unstable and enormous items of lava can fall out of the blue,” the Met Workplace mentioned.