Some lava has breached one of the earthen walls built to protect Grindavík, on the Reykjanes peninsula, RÚV reports. There is not, however, any immediate danger to Grindavík or other human settlements from this lava.
“Cold lava”
The breach was noticed yesterday at a wall north of Grindavík. It is moving very slowly, and is not a great deal of lava, but is being monitored continuously, just like the rest of the eruption area.
Atli Gunnarsson, inspector general of the Suðurnes Police, told reporters, “This is a small amount of lava that just rolled over the wall, cold lava that was pushed over the brim. So this is really insignificant and we’re not worried about it right now.”
Not enough time for a warning
That said, there have been indications of yet another eruption on the way soon. People have been reminded to stay away from the eruption site, especially as ground surface rising indicates accumulating magma, which may lead to a second fissure at or near the location of the ongoing eruption.
Benedikt Ófeigsson of the Icelandic Met Office told reporters that if another eruption comes, it will likely be so sudden that there would not be enough time to warn people to avoid the area.
What a new eruption could mean for defensive walls which, in some parts, are already holding back a considerable amount of lava remains to be seen.
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