Iceland volcano 2024: Is it safe to travel and is the eruption affecting flights?

A volcano erupted on Iceland’s Reykjanes peninsula for the second time on Sunday after thousands of small earthquakes shook the southwest coast.

The eruption began on January 14 shortly before 8 a.m. local time about 4 km northeast of Grindavik, whose residents were evacuated before the event.

Hours later, a second fissure opened near the edge of the city and the lava rushed towards the houses destroying many.

Authorities say the volcanic eruption started to calm down on Tuesday morning, although it is still a risky situation, as new fissures can emerge in a short time.

Despite being only 20km north of the eruption site, Keflavik International Airport – Iceland’s main international airport – remains open and flights are still arriving and departing. The roads around Grindavik are closed, however.

If you are planning to travel to or from the affected area, here are full details on advice from European governments and airlines.

How long will the volcano in Iceland erupt?

The Grindavik community was evacuated in November after a series of earthquakes opened large cracks in the ground between the town and Sýlingarfell, a small mountain to the north.

The volcano eventually erupted on December 18, and residents were allowed to return to their homes on December 22.

In the following weeks, emergency workers built defensive walls around Grindavik, but the barriers were not complete and the lava was moving toward the community, the weather office said.

Before last month’s eruption, the Svartsengi volcanic system north of Grindavik had been dormant for about 780 years. The volcano is located a few kilometers west of Fagradalsfjall, which was dormant for 6,000 years before it erupted in March 2021.

Unlike the previous event, Sunday’s eruption at Svartsengi produced a “very rapid flow” of lava that moved south towards Grindavik, the Met Office’s Kristín Jónsdóttir said.

“Fortunately, we had some warning, so we had increased earthquake activity, and this was all communicated to civil protection, so the town of Grindavik was evacuated,” he said.

On Monday, scientists said the eruption appeared to be dying down, but it was too soon to declare the danger over.

The President of Iceland, Gudni Th. Johannesson, said in a televised address late Sunday that “a frightening period of upheaval has begun on the Reykjanes peninsula” where a long-dormant volcanic system has awakened.

Iceland volcano eruption ‘not a tourist attraction’

Icelandic authorities declared a state of emergency in November after hundreds of small earthquakes shook the Reykjanes peninsula – the island nation’s most populous region.

“This is not a tourist attraction and you should watch it from a great distance,” Vidir Reynisson, head of Iceland’s Civil Protection and Emergency Management, told national broadcaster RUV.

The eruptive fissure is about 4 km long, with the northern end east of Stóra-Skógfell and the southern end east of Sundhnúk.

But the spectacular natural phenomenon is difficult for people to resist. “That’s right [like] something out of a movie!” said Robert Donald Forrester III, a tourist from the United States.

For local residents, emotions are mixed. “The town involved could end up under the lava,” said Ael Kermarec, a French tour guide who lives in Iceland. “It’s amazing to see, but it’s kind of a bittersweet feeling at the moment.”

Are the flights to Iceland cancelled?

Despite concerns about the impact eruption will have on the way, near the airport of Keflavik remains operational. Icelandic airport operator ISAVIA advises passengers to monitor flight information here.

Volcanic eruptions can be a serious danger to air travel, as ash released into the atmosphere can cause failure of jet engines, damage to flight control systems and reduce visibility.

However, Sunday’s eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula is not expected to release large amounts of ash into the air.

There were no cancellations or significant delays at Keflavik International Airport due to the eruption. Icelandair says there has been no impact on its flight schedule, and Play says it expects no disruption to its schedule.

Most airlines said they will contact customers directly if this changes. Passengers have been advised to pay close attention to messages from their airline.

A major eruption in Iceland in April 2010 caused widespread disruption to air travel between Europe and North America. The quarter of a billion cubic meters of volcanic ash it ejected into the air led to more than 100,000 flights being canceled over an eight-day period.

Although there had been fears of a repeat, the Eyjafjallajokull volcano erupted under circumstances that contributed to the immense size of its ash cloud. A glacier on it caused the meltwater to rapidly cool the lava, creating tiny particles that were thrown into the air by the steam produced in the eruption. These were then carried on the wind towards Europe.

The recent eruption it happened under very different circumstances, reducing the chances of similar flight chaos. In the last three years, three eruptions have occurred on the Reykjanes Peninsula with no impact on air travel.

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is even better prepared for a large volcanic ash event.

“In case of eruption and development of an ash cloud, the agency will work with other aviation stakeholders to assess the impact for aviation and make recommendations accordingly,” a statement on the website of the ‘EASA from November read.

Is it safe to travel to Iceland?

Several European foreign offices have advised travelers to stay away from Grindavik and respect local restrictions. They direct travelers to the Icelandic Met Office and Travel safely to Iceland for the latest advice.

The UK Foreign Office said in updated travel advice for Iceland: “All roads to Grindavík are closed and you should stay away from the area.

“Keflavik International Airport is operating as normal, but you should check the latest updates. Reykjavik and the rest of Iceland have not been affected.

“You should monitor the local media for updates and follow the advice of the authorities.”

They said the eruption area is closed until further notice and urged people to respect the closure. However, they do not recommend traveling to the country at all.

Visitors are advised to stay away from the area surrounding the eruption, and to follow the direction and guidance of local authorities.

The country has not issued a ‘no-go’ travel warning for Iceland, meaning airlines and holiday companies are operating as normal and travelers who cancel their bookings do not have an automatic right to a refund.

“For those concerned about travel insurance coverage, and whether canceling a trip is best, we advise travelers to exercise common sense and travel with caution,” says Jonathan Frankham, managing director of the insurance company of travel World Nomads.

“It is important to note that policies purchased after earthquakes and the consequent volcanic eruption become a ‘known event’ are unlikely to be covered, but we recommend that you check your policy wording for precise details.”

Tourists are advised to contact their airline or travel provider for assistance and the latest information.

tea Blue Lagoon geothermal spa – one of Iceland’s biggest tourist attractions – temporarily closed on November 9 after being hit by earthquakes. It finally reopened on January 12, but has now been forced to close again until at least January 16.

“After an increase in seismic activity detected in the area the previous night, we took the precautionary measure of evacuating all our operational units. The site of the current eruption is at a safe distance from the Blue Lagoon,” read an update on their website.

“As a result, we will remain closed until Tuesday. Further updates and information will be provided here as they become available.

“All guests with reservations during this temporary closure period will be contacted. Guests wishing to modify or cancel their reservations are kindly directed to use the My Booking portal.”