Once again, Iceland’s nature proves its powerful force when a long-dormant volcano erupted on the Reykjanes Peninsula at 9:40 p.m. Icelandic time on March 19. Named after the valley where the event took place, the eruption has been called Geldingadalsgos. The eruption occurred on Friday evening on Mount Fagradalsfjall near Reykjavik.
According to the Icelandic Meteorological Office, the lava streams are small and are flowing from a small fissure. As of now, everything seems stable and the Geldingadalsgos eruption hasn’t caused injuries or damage. Yet, it is still rather difficult to predict how the eruption will unfold since its activity decreased and then increased once again over the weekend.
For those who want to visit the eruption site at Fagradalsfjall volcano, remember that there are no direct roads leading there. This would mean a long hike over difficult terrain in unpredictable weather conditions. You might be able to view the eruption from a distance from the surrounding areas, but make sure to take all safety precautions before you do so.
Along with the eruption, there is not only lava but harmful gas is also being released. It’s especially harmful if it is in high concentration levels. At the time of writing, gas pollution hasn’t been detected in the areas close by but visitors are still asked to remain upwind and on higher grounds. For the time being, it’s best to pay close attention to the updates released by local authorities.
