“The eruption began in Grindavik. Shortly after 21:00 (00:00 Moscow time, editor’s note) a state of emergency was declared,” the message quoted RIA Novosti as saying.
Firefighter Einar Sven Jonsson told the publication that the evacuation of the surrounding area is almost complete. However, the exact number of people who will be displaced is not known.
According to Benedikt Ofeigsson, spokesman for the Icelandic Meteorological Service, the fissure in the ground from which the magma is gushing is 1.5 kilometres long. The volcanic lava is moving at high speed. Experts expect the eruption to reach its peak in a couple of hours.
“Grindavik doesn’t seem to be in danger yet, but we can’t say anything until the situation starts to stabilise,” Ofeigsson said.
Later, RUV reported that the length of the fissure from which the magma was coming had increased within 40 minutes and now reached 3.9 km. The lava is moving at a speed of 6 kilometres per hour.
