The eruption in Eyjafjallajokull continues, in light of the ash distribution forecast  for Monday 26 April, air traffic in Iceland is now limited. 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.

Keflavik International Airport

Information from Icelandair

Information from Iceland Express

Volcano 1/10th of its original size

Very little ash has fallen over the last few days – and is only visible as a very fine dust on cars near the eruption site. The volcanic eruption is now stable, and is roughly one tenth of the size it was during the first few days.

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!

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.

Daily life not affected – No safety threats!

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.

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.

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. 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-sites...Read more

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.

Míla‘s Optical Fiber Cable, that carries almost all 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.