After weeks of anticipation, scientists were not caught off-guard when a volcano in southwestern Iceland began spewing lava on Monday night. The region, which has been highly active for over two years, experienced thousands of small earthquakes in recent weeks, signaling the impending eruption.
Lava Flows on the Decline
On Wednesday, the Icelandic Meteorological Office reported a slowdown in lava flows from the ongoing eruption in the Svartsengi volcanic system. This decrease suggests that a nearby town, previously evacuated due to the seismic activity, might remain safe as the lava flow reduces.
Halldor Geirsson, an associate professor at the Institute of Earth Sciences at the University of Iceland, mentioned to Reuters that the eruption could conclude by the weekend or extend into the following week. Alternatively, lava flows might continue at a faint pace for several weeks or even months, reminiscent of the Fagradalsfjall system's activity in 2021.
Air Travel Remains Unaffected
Despite the Reykjanes Peninsula's proximity to Keflavik Airport, Iceland's primary international gateway, the recent volcanic eruptions have not disrupted flights or caused damage. Monday's eruption, although more substantial and powerful than those in recent years, is not expected to impact air travel, as per forecasters and scientists.
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Lava flows continue to decrease, flights not affected in Iceland
cgtn.com
