Volcano lava sets house on fire in Iceland

Volcano lava sets house on fire in Iceland
http://proza.ru/2024/01/15/995
https://stihi.ru/2024/01/15/4367

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Iceland
Volcano
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15.01.2024
11:07 am  London time UK

BBC  UK

Lava spills into Iceland town appear to slow as houses destroyed

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-67977591

Published
6 minutes ago [11:07 am  London time 15.1.2024 UK]

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Watch: Volcano lava sets house on fire in Iceland

By Ruth Comerford
BBC News

Lava flows into the Icelandic town of Grindavik appeared to be slowing, authorities said Monday, after several houses were destroyed by fires.

A volcano on the Reykjanes peninsula erupted in the early hours of Sunday, spilling lava into the fishing town.

The entire population of the town was evacuated and no casualties have been reported.

Defences built after an eruption in December have partially contained the lava, but some have been breached.

The main road into the town has been cut off by the flow of lava.

The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) said the barriers had been breached in some places, allowing lava to reach the town which then set houses and buildings on fire.

"Seeing your home burn down on live television is something you cannot easily handle," Unndpr Sigurthsson told the MBL news website. She said her family had left almost all their items when they were evacuated, leaving them only with clothes and essential items.

A volcano spews lava and smoke as it erupts in Reykjanes Peninsula

IMAGE SOURCE,REUTERS
Image caption,
A volcano spews lava and smoke as it erupts in Reykjanes Peninsula

There was no indication of disruption to domestic or international flights following the eruption. The IMO's aviation colour code for the Reykjanes peninsula was orange on Monday morning, indicating an ongoing eruption with "no or minor ash emission".

Flights from nearby Keflavik Airport were operating as normal.

Addressing the nation in a live broadcast on Sunday evening, President Gudni Johannesson urged people to "stand together and have compassion for those who cannot be in their homes".

He said he hoped the situation would calm down, but that "anything can happen", the AFP news agency reported.

Volcanologist Evgenia Ilyinskaya told BBC Breakfast that the peninsula was likely entering a period of frequent eruptions, known as the New Reykjanes Fires.

Prof Ilyinskaya said eruptions could take place "every few months or once a year for several decades or several centuries."

The Reykjanes Fires were a series of intense volcanic activity on the peninsula in the 12th Century.

Strong earthquake tremors preceded the December eruption in the Svartsengi volcanic system. In the weeks since, walls were built around the volcano to direct molten rock away from Grindavik, home to some 4,000 people.

Map of Iceland
Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir said the eruption was a "black day for all of Iceland," but added that "the sun will rise again".

"Together we will deal with this shock and whatever may come. Our thoughts and prayers are with you."

Lava spreads across the Reykjanes peninsula
IMAGE SOURCE,REUTERS
Image caption,
Lava spreads across the Reykjanes peninsula

The country's alert level has been raised to "emergency" - the highest of the three-level scale which signals there could be a threat of harm to people, communities, property or the environment.

Sunday's eruption is the fifth to have taken place along the Reykjanes peninsula since 2021.

Iceland sits over what's known as the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the boundary between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates - two of the largest on the planet. Iceland has 33 active volcano systems.

6 minutes ago [11:07 am  London time 15.1.2024 UK]

Related Topics

Volcanoes
Iceland

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BBC  UK

15.01.2024
11:07 am  London time UK

BBC  UK

Lava spills into Iceland town appear to slow as houses destroyed

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-67977591

World News
Iceland
Volcano
Lava

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Volcano lava sets house on fire in Iceland
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Лава вулкана подожгла дом в Исландии
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