The UK Foreign Office has updated its travel advice for Iceland to warn that a volcanic eruption is increasingly possible.
Icelandic authorities have declared a state of emergency after hundreds of small earthquakes shook the Reykjanes Peninsula, the island nation’s most populated region, for more than two weeks.
Experts fear an imminent volcanic eruption and authorities have evacuated a nearby town.
Despite being just 10 miles north of the eruption site, Keflavik International Airport has not been closed and flights continue to arrive and depart.
If you’re planning to travel to or from the affected area, here are all the details on advice from European governments and which airlines are still operating flights.
Will there be a volcanic eruption in Iceland?
Seismic activity in Iceland began in an area north of Grindavik, a fishing village of 3,400 people that was evacuated on Saturday.
Here, a magma corridor beneath the surface is already about 10 kilometers long and is expanding, geology professor Pall Einarrson told RUV Iceland.
“The largest earthquakes originated there, under this old series of craters, but since then [the magma corridor] it got longer, passed under the urban area of Grindavík and is heading even further towards the sea,” he said.
In and around Grindavik, seismic activity has caused large cracks to appear in roads and golf courses.
Have flights to Iceland been cancelled?
Concerns have been raised about the impact of seismic activity and potential eruption will have on the trip.
A major eruption in Iceland in 2010 caused widespread disruption to air travel between Europe and North America, with more than 100,000 flights canceled in an eight-day period.
“At this stage it is not possible to determine exactly whether and where the magma could reach the surface,” the Icelandic Meteorological Office said.
Icelandic authorities have raised the air alert to orange, indicating an increased risk of a vulcanic eruption.
Volcanic eruptions can pose a serious danger to air travel as ash released into the atmosphere can cause jet engines to fail, damage flight control systems and reduce visibility.
But flights currently still operate normally to nearby Keflavik International Airport and there have been no significant cancellations or delays.
“Our flight schedule is currently operating as normal, however we are monitoring the situation closely and if this changes we will contact customers directly to advise them on their flights,” an easyJet spokesperson told the Independent.
Is it safe to travel to Iceland?
The UK Foreign Office has updated its travel advice to Iceland to warn that a vulcanic eruption it is increasingly possible.
“Earthquakes and indications of volcanic activity have increased above normal levels on the Reykjanes Peninsula, southwest of Reykjavik,” the official advice reads.
“Icelandic authorities continue to closely monitor the area, particularly the area northwest of Thorbjörn mountain near the Svartsengi power plant and the Blue Lagoon.
On November 10, the Civil Protection alert was declared after an intense swarm of earthquakes.”
Visitors are advised to stay away from the town of Grindavík and the surrounding area.
Similarly, Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs bans travel to the city and warns that “visitors to Iceland should always follow the directions and guidance of local authorities.”
However, neither government has issued a travel ban notice for Iceland, meaning airlines and tour companies are operating normally and travelers who cancel are not automatically entitled to a refund.
“We would like to stress that if the FCO’s current guidance remains advisory, insurance cover will remain normal,” says Jonathan Frankham, managing director of travel insurance company World Nomads.
“However, if a natural disaster such as an earthquake, flood or volcano affects your travel plans and/or injures you, you should check your policy details. For example, at World Nomads, you must have purchased your policy before these powerful forces of nature become a “known event” and be part of an Explorer plan for us to consider coverage.”
THE blue Lagoon The geothermal spa, one of Iceland’s biggest tourist attractions, has been temporarily closed until November 16 after being hit by the earthquakes.
Image:Getty Images
