Icelandic volcano eruption slows, gas pollution decreases

COPENHAGEN/OSLO (Reuters) – An Icelandic volcanic eruption near the capital Reykjavik is slowing and gas pollution is declining, but residents should still stay away from the volcano that is spewing toxic gases, experts said.

Icelandic Met Office Fedor said on Tuesday that the volcano’s eruption has decreased significantly, adding that people should stay away from the prohibited eruption site.

The Little Hrutor volcano, located about 60 kilometers (37 miles) from the country’s capital, has attracted interest with some people trying to get closer to the site, a 9-kilometre (5.6-mile) walk from the nearest car park.

Hjordis Gudmundsdottir, a spokesperson for the Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management, said that while being outside is not dangerous, the situation is unpredictable and children should not be allowed near the area even when restrictions are eventually lifted.

The administration late Monday encouraged residents of the Reykjanes peninsula to close windows and turn off ventilation.

The Met Office earlier warned of high gas pollution around the pyroclastic eruption, but said there was no ash.

Hazardous gases are expected to affect the Fagradalsfjall area south of the eruption, away from densely populated areas, according to the Vidor weather forecast map.

“This has become a small eruption, which is very good news,” Magnus Tommy Gudmundsson, a professor of geophysics at the University of Iceland, told Icelandic broadcaster RUV earlier Tuesday.

The Icelandic government said the eruption comes after intense seismic activity over the past few days and is classified as a fault eruption that does not usually result in large explosions or a large amount of ash in the stratosphere.

(Reporting by Louise Brioche Rasmussen and Victoria Clesty) Editing by Robert Purcell, Devika Syamnath, Emma Romney and Alexandra Hudson

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