HELSINKI, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Volcanic activity on southwestern Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula is declining, prompting civil protection authorities to lower the alert level from "emergency" to "threat," Icelandic public broadcaster RUV reported Thursday.
Lovisa Mjoll Gudmundsdottir, a natural hazard specialist at the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO), said the eruption continues to weaken. "Last night we saw the light at the southernmost part of the fissure fading, and today it has gone out in the north. Only one crater remains active in the far north, with most activities now centered mid-fissure," she told RUV.
Seismic activity has remained minimal throughout the day, further indicating the eruption is subsiding.
The eruption began around 4:00 a.m. local time Wednesday in the Sundhnukur volcanic area, following a series of earthquakes shortly after midnight. By 5:00 a.m. local time, a fissure 700 to 1,000 meters long had opened and continued expanding northward. Lava flowed southeast without threatening critical infrastructure. By midday Wednesday, the fissure had extended beyond two kilometers, and the lava covered approximately 3.2 square kilometers, according to the IMO.
While updated lava flow data is expected soon, attention has shifted to gas emissions. Significant pollution has been detected in the Westfjords, a large peninsula in the northwest of Iceland, and the northern part of the country. Gudmundsdottir noted that shifting winds may continue to spread volcanic particles even after the eruption ends.
Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and urging residents and travelers to stay informed through official channels.
Emergency evacuations were carried out Wednesday in the southern town of Grindavik and surrounding areas, including the Blue Lagoon tourist site. As of Thursday, Grindavik has reopened to residents and hotels have resumed operations, though restrictions remain in place for tourists, RUV reported.
The eruption has not affected the capital, Reykjavik, and volcanic ash has not disrupted air travel.
This is the ninth eruption in the Sundhnukur volcanic area since 2021 and the second this year, the previous one occurring on April 1.
