The Grindavík mayor: Too early to call
Jónasson feels it is too early to determine that the eruption is over until there has been a longer period of rest in the area. Composite image
The mayor of Grindavík, Fannar Jónasson, says it’s too early to declare the eruption at Sundhnúkagígar crater row finished, but an announcement from the Icelandic Met Office this morning stated that no eruption activity is visible, and Sigríður Magnea Óskarsdóttir, a nature expert at the Met Office, told mbl.is before noon that the eruption is thus closed.
Not easy to determine the situation
“It’s a happy news that there’s not much lava production from this crater vents, but scientists have noted, and most recently at a meeting this morning, that it’s not good to control the situation and this may re-emerge. There’s no way that it’s possible to declare the eruption’s end until some time has passed. We hope that the eruption has ended, but that doesn’t mean that it can be celebrated immediately,” Jónasson tells us.
He says that it has been shown from previous eruptions that even though the eruption seems to be dying down, it can start up again. He adds that if history has taught us anything it is that it is best to be careful, as was revealed at the meeting with scientists this morning.
Opening of Grindavík road postponed
The Chief of Police in Suðurnes issued an announcement last night about the change in access to Grindavík town after the Icelandic Met Office issued a new hazard assessment map. Residents and employees of companies are now allowed to stay and work in the town from 7 am to 16 pm daily.
“I heard from one of us in the area around the eleventh hour and there was little traffic. There was a delay in opening Grindavíkurvegur road until noon. The road had to be marked and the maximum speed had to be lowered, and the Road and Coastal Administration wanted to take more time before it could open. It was, however, possible to reach the town from Nesvegur road and Suðurstrandarvegur road.”
He says that the idea here is not to let tourists enter the area, as it is very dangerous for people to try to get to the eruption site.
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