by Donald Wood
Last updated: 10:00 AM ET, Mon March 18, 2024
Iceland has declared a state of emergency and started evacuating
tourists from impacted regions following another
volcanic eruption over the weekend.
According to The Weather Network,
the Iceland Meteorological Office (IMO) declared a state of emergency on March
16 after the fourth eruption in three months forced tourists to abandon Blue
Lagoon and the seaside town of Grindavík due to lava flow.
IMO officials warned that more eruptions were possible and
issued the alert on Saturday just 40 minutes ahead of the fissure opening. All
travelers were evacuated from the area, which is expected to remain closed
through at least Sunday.
“We will continue to closely follow the guidelines and
recommendations of the authorities, working collaboratively with them to
monitor the progression of events,” Blue Lagoon representatives said in a statement.
“This commitment aligns with our unwavering dedication to ensuring the safety
and wellbeing of our valued guests and staff.”
The IMO believes Saturday’s eruption was the largest since
2021, but Blue Lagoon and Grindavík installed “defensive barriers” as part of
an effort to deter the lava flows.
The wind blew the clouds and gasses westward, allowing Keflavík
International Airport—which is southwest of Reykjavík—to continue flights into
and out of the country. Airport officials do not believe the eruption will impact
aviation in the coming days.
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