Reykjavik Iceland Volcano News and Webc...
Your comprehensive Guide to Everything Reykjavik
 Photo of the eruption ©RAX/mbl.is
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UPDATE - VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS, March/April 2010
Please note that the Hekla webcam and information has been moved to the bottom of the page due to recent volcanic activity between Eyjafjallajokull glacier and Katla volcano.
Early on Sunday morning (the 21st of March) eruption started at Fimmvorduhals, an area between Katla volcano and Eyjafjallajokull glacier and a popular hiking trail. Fear remains that the eruption at Fimmvorduhals might trigger a much larger eruption in Katla volcano. The eruption at Fimmvorduhals has now stopped but a new eruption in Gígjokull glacier started on April 14th 2010.
The two new webcams showing Eyjafjallajokull glacier and provide a view of the eruption area were installed by Mila. The Hekla webcam (bottom of page) was installed in partnership between Iceland´s National Radio, Iceland´s Civil Protection Department and Siminn telephone. Volcanic activity is best viewed during dusk (6pm-8pm local time) as night falls and daylight reduces.
Webcam location map
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Recent Developments
Wednesday, April 21st 2010
- 14:10 - The eruption is slowing down fast.
- 14:50 - After a weeks of closures Europe´s airports are now open again. Its expected that flight traffic will reach 75% of a normal day today.
Click on the bar below to view older news entries
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March 22nd - April 20th 2010 |
Monday, March 22nd 2010
- 1:35 PM - This just in - Lava is beginning to flow and it looks like the initial crack is expanding to the north-east.
- 4:00PM - New photo album from today´s flight over the volcano area: Photos
- 6:30PM - According to Channel 2 news the eruption is still gaining strength.
Tuesday, March 23rd 2010
- 11:45AM - Iceland´s Civil Protection Department is exploring the option of allowing tourist to the eruption area. Danger zone is defined a 5km radius from the eruption site.
- 1:00PM - Due to bad weather today the webcams are not likely to give a great view of the eruptions.
Wednesday, March 24th 2010
- 9:00AM - Scientists say that the eruption could last few weeks or even months and that the activity is still increasing. There is hope for the coming days that the visibility will improve so that the webcams will provide a clearer view.
- 7:30PM - It´s estimated that the lava "waterfall" is over 200 meters high. That´s incredible!
- 9:30PM - Amazing video from the eruption today: Click here for video
Thursday, March 25th 2010
- 8:40AM - Yesterday we got some excellent action on webcam 2. Weather today is good so we expect more today, especially in the afternoon. Volcanic activity remains strong according to scientists.
- 9:40AM - The volcanic eruption at Fimmvorduhals has created a new mountain of volcanic lava and rock. Speculations are now on what to name it.
Monday, March 29th 2010
- It´s estimated that as many as 2.000 people visited the eruption area per day over the last few days. Few visitors were not dressed appropriately and had to be rescued by rescue units. Iceland´s highlands are not an area you visit in your sneakers and leather jacket. Check out this photo album from a trip up to the volcano.
Wednesday, March 31st 2010
- Heavy trraffic is expected over the next few days. Scientists says that its likely that the volcanic eruption on Fimmvorduhals has reached it´s peak and could slow down from now on. Chefs from Hotel Holt served guests for dinner yesterday at the volcano and even cooked the meal using the hot volcanic rock. See video.
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9:15PM - BREAKING NEWS! New 300m long crack has opened up, estimated about 200m from the original one. All visitors have been evacuated from the area to a safe distance with the help of Iceland´s Coast Guard helicopter and other helicopters. The crack opened up suddenly only about 30m from visitors.
Wednesday, April 14th 2010
- 08:05 - BREAKING NEWS! - NEW ERUPTION HAS STARTED. More news to follow here!
- 08:08 - Iceland´s Coast Guard airplane is now flying over the glacier to try to get a better view of what´s happening.
- 08:21 - It looks like the eruption is actually in Gígjokull glacier. See map from RUV.
- 08:34 - Water level in Markarfljót river has risen by about 1 meter in a short time.
- 08:49 - 700 people have been ordered to evacuate their homes due to new volcanic activity in Gígjokull, Iceland
- 09:25 - Hopefully the volcano webcams will provide a clear view of the new developments as weather in the area gets better.
- 09:44 - The eruption is underneath a glacier and is melting the ice, causing water flow from there to double in short time
- 10:25 - Tremors are by far exceeding what happened in the first eruption. See activity.
- 10:45 - Three big holes haven been located in the glacier. The ash cloud has now reached 22.000 feet.
- 11:47 - Rivers are now flooded with melted glacial ice. It´s estimated that several bridges might be in danger. Roads leading to the area have been closed.
- 11:52 - Flight traffic in south Iceland is now restricted due to the new eruption.
- 12:06 - Heavy machinery used to dig a waterway through the Icelandic ring road to protect newly built bridge from flooding. Photo
- 14:10 - Check out this video that was taken this morning during onboard the Icelandic Coast Guard airplane of the eruption and nearby flooding. (Works best in IE and Firefox)
Thursday, April 15th 2010
- 08:05 - All flights in northern Norway and Sweden have been grounded due to volcanic ash.
- 08:35 - It´s expected that all UK flights will be cancelled from noon today due to volcanic ash from Iceland.
- 08:37 - Flights between Asia and America may be disrupted due to volcanic ash on the flight path over the Arctic.
- 08:38 - Footage of flooding in Iceland yesterday here.
- 12:20 - All UK flights grounded until at least 6pm UK time.
- 12:24 - It´s expected that a flight ban will be introduced in Denmark, Sweden, Holland, Belgium and north-Germany later today.
- 12:25 - Residents near the volcano advised to use dust-masks outside to protect against volcanic ash being inhaled.
- 12:30 - Map showing how the ash has grounded air traffic: http://tweetphoto.com/18507511
- 12:36 - This photo show how the volcanic ash covers a pickup truck.
- 12:40 - This photo shows who the ash in the air turned daytime into night this morning. Photo taken at 10.30am.
- 20:00 - Flash flood came down Markarfljót river.
Friday, April 16th 2010
- 09:05 - Most of Europe´s airspace is still affected by ash from Iceland´s volcano. News article.
Monday, April 19th 2010
- 08:40 - Most of Europe´s airspace is still closed. The cloud of ash might reach Canada´s east coast at noon today (Icelandic time).
- 08:41 - EU Emergency meeting to be held today: News article by BBC.
- 08:42 - Video taken of the volcano on friday: Watch video
- 09:20 - Yesterday saw the following airspaces partly or completely closed: Austria, Belgium, Bosnia, UK, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italia, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Rumania, Serbia, Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Swiss, Ukrania and Spain.
- 21:l00 - Its expected that more airspaces will open up tomorrow partly or completely, among them the UK, France and Belgium. Amsterdam Schipol opened this evening.
Webcam 3 - Hekla webcam
Hekla is a 1491 meter high volcano, located in the highlands of Iceland. Hekla is the most active volcano in Iceland and often referred to as the Queen of Iceland´s volcanoes.
Hekla last erupted in February of 2000. Scientists believe that Hekla is likely to erupt soon and if that happens – you will be able to watch it happen live – right here!
In ancient times Hekla was thought to be the entrance to hell or even hell it self. It´s was in 1750 that the first people hiked to the top of Hekla.
