Danger volcanic fissures could tear apart Icelandic town
Dec 20, 2023 15:40:57 GMT -5
Post by Pink Rose on Dec 20, 2023 15:40:57 GMT -5
Huge danger that volcanic fissures could tear apart Icelandic town without warning, local experts fear as tourists rush to cancel trips to the country and stunning new images of lava flows emerge
Experts have warned the future is 'uncertain' and that disruption to tourism could continue into next year
By ELENA SALVONI
PUBLISHED: 04:20 EST, 20 December 2023 | UPDATED: 10:13 EST, 20 December 2023
Iceland's ongoing volcanic eruption could see new fissures open up and rip apart the nearby town of Grindavik, experts have warned, as the area remains on high alert amid uncertainty around what the coming days will bring.
The eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula, which began on Monday night, signals a heightened risk of volcanic fissures opening without warning inside the fishing town - which is home to some 4,000 people and was evacuated after it began to be shaken by earthquakes weeks ago.
Locals have shared videos of their homes being ripped apart, with houses sealed and a number of people told they cannot return after the force of the tremors ripping homes from their foundations.
Iceland's tourism industry, driven by attractions including the Blue Lagoon which is just a stone's throw from the eruption, has also taken a huge hit - with some flights delayed and nervous holidaymakers cancelling reservations and pushing back their trips for the coming months.
'The future is still uncertain,' Icelandic tourist board boss Jóhannes Þór Skúlason told MBL.is. 'We have to see how this eruption plays out. If the upheavals continue for a long time, the impact on the tourism industry can be great into next year.'
Meanwhile, people around the world have marvelled at the stunning new images coming out of the country, with drone footage showing the steaming lava flows pouring out over snow-capped mountains and laying bare the extent of the 2.5 mile (4km) chasm.
Full story with pictures and video at the link
Experts have warned the future is 'uncertain' and that disruption to tourism could continue into next year
By ELENA SALVONI
PUBLISHED: 04:20 EST, 20 December 2023 | UPDATED: 10:13 EST, 20 December 2023
Iceland's ongoing volcanic eruption could see new fissures open up and rip apart the nearby town of Grindavik, experts have warned, as the area remains on high alert amid uncertainty around what the coming days will bring.
The eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula, which began on Monday night, signals a heightened risk of volcanic fissures opening without warning inside the fishing town - which is home to some 4,000 people and was evacuated after it began to be shaken by earthquakes weeks ago.
Locals have shared videos of their homes being ripped apart, with houses sealed and a number of people told they cannot return after the force of the tremors ripping homes from their foundations.
Iceland's tourism industry, driven by attractions including the Blue Lagoon which is just a stone's throw from the eruption, has also taken a huge hit - with some flights delayed and nervous holidaymakers cancelling reservations and pushing back their trips for the coming months.
'The future is still uncertain,' Icelandic tourist board boss Jóhannes Þór Skúlason told MBL.is. 'We have to see how this eruption plays out. If the upheavals continue for a long time, the impact on the tourism industry can be great into next year.'
Meanwhile, people around the world have marvelled at the stunning new images coming out of the country, with drone footage showing the steaming lava flows pouring out over snow-capped mountains and laying bare the extent of the 2.5 mile (4km) chasm.
Full story with pictures and video at the link