According to the Civil Protection Agency of Iceland, the country’s national police commissioner has lowered the threat level from the volcano that erupted earlier in the week. The eruption in Southwestern Iceland on Monday came after weeks of seismic activity, prompting the complete evacuation of a town with 4,000 inhabitants.
The Civil Protection authority stated, “Today, there is no visible activity in the volcano, so this decision was made,” as it downgraded the threat level from “emergency” to “danger.”
While the threat level has been downgraded, Iceland’s meteorological office cautioned that the risk of an eruption in the region around the Svartsengi volcanic system, where magma continues to accumulate, is increasing daily.
In a statement on Friday evening, the office mentioned, “This development will likely lead to another dike intrusion and, ultimately, a volcanic eruption.”
The eruption raised concerns due to its impact on the surrounding area and population. The country’s authorities have been closely monitoring the situation since the eruption.
Overall, the downgraded threat level comes as a relief, but the ongoing accumulation of magma in the region means that the risk of another eruption persists.
Emergency response and preparedness efforts will likely continue, as the potential for another eruption remains a possibility in the foreseeable future.
The situation will continue to be monitored and evaluated by the appropriate authorities to ensure the safety and well-being of the affected population in Southwestern Iceland.
(Reporting by Essi Lehto; Editing by Terje Solsvik and Richard Chang)
