RSOE Emergency and Disaster Information Service

Situation Update No. 4

Posted:2010-03-21, 04:53:35 [UTC]

Ref.no.: VE-20100321-25390-ISL

Situation Update No. 4
On 2010-03-21 at 09:18:12 [UTC]

Event: Volcano Eruption
Location: Iceland Municipality of Rangárþing eystra Volcano Eyjafjallajökull

Number of Evacuated: 600 person(s)

At about 11.30 on Saturday night some residents in Fljótshlíd noticed that an orange colored stroke appeared behind the glacier Eyjafjallajökull. The area has been under constant surveilance in recent days because of earthquake activiety and it was clear that as feared. an eruption had started. Immediately an evacuation plan was put into effect for the 400 people in the area who were thought to be in danger. The operation was successful and at five o'clock all had been regisered at Hvolsvöllur, where a rescue center was set up. The ereption is located in Fimmvörduhals, a passager between two glacers, Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull. A popular walking path goes through the area, from Skógafoss in the south to Thórsmörk. Everty summer hvdereds, and perhaps thousands, walk through the area. Scientists say the eruption seems to be small. It consists of a row of ten paralell strokes. Because the eruption in not under a glacier, the danger is much smaller than it would otherwise have beeen. We will continue to bring news about the eruption during the day.