Iceland volcano eruption alert

Updated
Bardarbunga volcano alert raised in Iceland
Bardarbunga volcano alert raised in Iceland




The risk level for an eruption of Iceland's Bardarbunga volcano has been increased to orange and could cause travel chaos for the aviation industry, similar to the Eyjafjallajokull eruption in 2010.

Iceland's met office says there has been "ongoing magma movement" and on its website it states that "intense earthquake swarm continues at Bardarbunga".

The orange volcano alert is the second highest level and is issued when a "volcano shows heightened or escalating unrest with increased potential of eruption."

Colour code red is the highest level and indicates "eruption is imminent or in progress - significant emission of ash into atmosphere likely".

In a statement the Icelandic Met Office said: "The current activity will result in an explosive subglacial eruption, leading to an outburst flood (jökulhlaup) and ash emission."

It added that the situation is being monitored closely.

The activity started on 16 August and there was a "strong earthquake" on Monday morning.

"This is the strongest earthquake measured in the region since 1996," the Icelandic Met Office said.

The Bardarbunga volcano is located under the Vatnajökull glacier and rises 2,009 metres above sea level, making it the second highest mountain in Iceland.

When the Eyjafjallajokull volcano erupted in 2010 it shut down most of Europe's airspace for six days and affected more than 10 million travellers. According to ABTA, up to one million people affected were British.



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