The civil protection department has declared a level of uncertainty because of seismic activity in the volcano Hekla in South Iceland as announced by the National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police and chief of police in Hvolsvöllur shortly after 11 am this morning.
Hekla. Photo: Páll Stefánsson/Iceland Review.
The announcement states that the Icelandic Met Office informed the civil protection department about unusual seismic activity in Hekla. The Icelandic Met Office also raised the surveillance level of Hekla to yellow because of air traffic, which means that the volcano is showing unusual activity, visir.is reports.
The level of uncertainty means that the course of events, which in latter stages could lead to the health and safety of people, the environment and inhabited areas being compromised, will be followed closely.
The level of uncertainty is declared to inform the parties who would help with evacuating areas near Hekla to be prepared and is part of the civil protection department’s planning. It is the lowest of three levels.
The National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police and chief of police in Hvolsvöllur warn people against traveling to Hekla while the level of uncertainty is active.
Hekla last erupted in 2000.
A web cam at Hekla can be viewed here.
ESA
