The restricted area around the Holuhraun eruption site has been significantly reduced. The restricted area now extends 20 m (66 feet) outside the edges of the new lava field, to the edge of Dyngjujökull outlet glacier on the south side, the river Jökulsá á Fjöllum to the east and to the westernmost branches of Jökulsá á Fjöllum in the west.
This was decided by the Police District Commissioners in Northeast, East and South Iceland, and the National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police, with reference to the Civil Protection law no. 82/2008 article 23, as revealed in a statement released this morning.
The decision is based on a risk assessment from the Icelandic Met Office covering risk factors in the area. The Met Office has also proposed countermeasures to increase public safety close to the restricted area.
The police, in cooperation with Vatnajökull National Park, will provide a presence in the area to secure public safety, in close collaboration with the Icelandic Met Office. These institutions will try to install further monitoring equipment in the area to increase monitoring so that warnings may be issued if necessary.
Vatnajökull National Park will issue locations of viewing areas. Information on evacuation routes will be issued by officers on site. The restricted area is shown on the above map of the area.
