The volcanic eruption in the Eyjafjallajokull glacier in Iceland

Passengers in Iceland and coming to Iceland
Passengers are asked to monitor flight schedules closely on travel industry web sites as the closing of the flight zones is based on regularly updated weather predictions.

For further information, passengers are advised to consult their airline and monitor flight schedule development. The following websites of Icelandic aviation authorities and airline operators provide valuable information on development of the situation:
Icelandic air navigation service
Icelandic Civil Aviation Administration
Icelandair
Iceland Express
Keflavik International Airport


Daily life not affected – No safety threats!
Although some ash mist might reach the capital area, it is not likely to cause more air pollution than a heavy traffic day in Reykjavik. So no need for masks!

Daily life in Iceland goes on as usual as the immediate effects of the eruption remain for the most part localized - limited to an area in the south of Iceland.  Businesses, public services, and public transportations have remained open and all infrastructures, such as electricity and communications networks, remain secure.

Here are couple of interviews with travellers in Iceland:
Travellers from Ireland that got marriaged in Iceland
Travellers from UK
Travellers from Holland
Travellers from Norway

Although the volcano poses no safety threat to people in Iceland, visitors are nevertheless encouraged to follow developments and seek factual information from the relevant authorities.

Where is the volcanic activity?
The volcano is located under Eyjafjallajokull glacier in South Iceland, about 200 km from Reykjavik. The new eruption is closely related to the eruptions at Fimmvorduhals in March.

However, the new eruptions are taking place underneath a glacier. The Icelandic civil protection authorities have the situation fully under control. Nobody is in danger and no persons have been harmed. The affected areas have been evacuated (mostly farmers in the area, ca. 500 people) and damage has been limited to roads, bridges and other infrastructure.

Prepared and alert
Icelanders are resilient people who have learned to live in harmony with the forces of nature. The civil protection and emergency management authorities in Iceland are prepared, alert, and effective and have the situation at the eruption site well under control.
Since there has been some discussion regarding the volcano Katla, it is important to note that there is still no indication of an eruption there.

Daily briefings at the press centres
The Civil Emergency Authorities arranges for daily briefings at 8:00 at the press centres in Reykjavik and Hvolsvollur in South Iceland. The briefings will include a general status update, as well as brief updates from a geophysicist and a meteorologist. The address in Reykjavik is Skogarhlid 14. The address at Hvolsvollur is Dufthaksbraut 10. You will find the latest press releases on their web-site

All Infrastructures Secure
Icelandic infrastructure is prepared for earthquakes and volcanic activitiy so all systems are designed to withstand natural calamities.

Transmission of Electricity
Transmission of Electricity is secure and has not been affected by the volcanic activity. Developments in the volcanic activity are being followed closely, with a maintenance team ready to respond to any events if needed. The electrical transmission network in Iceland is circular with all power plants directly connected to the main grind. Thus in case of a transmission failure a backup power is always available from the other side to the rest of the island.

Communication
The main telecommunications network is extremely robust and based on two main systems. It is designed with redundancy for both equipment and power and also incorporates backup routes for critical traffic. National and international telecommunication traffic, is secure. The design for the backhaul connections for the submarine cables connecting Iceland to the mainland takes into consideration necessary backup routes in case of Fiber Cable damage.

United in cleansing efforts
Over a hundred volunteers are expected to arrive in the Eyjafjallajokull area today – from rescue team members to Facebook members – helping to clean the local houses of ash,  to assist with farming, and furthermore to man control posts and limit access to certain areas nearby the volcano. The ash fall has caused some damage to the few dozen or so farms in the area and the cleaning process will continue.

Other helpful information
Iceland Tourist Board official website

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