The updated hazards assessment will be in effect from 15:00 today until 23 April, pending further developments.
Changes have been made to the assessment, with reduced lava flow hazards in most areas except Zone 3 (Sundhnúkur crater row) and Zone 6. This adjustment reflects the absence of recent lava flows in other regions over the past two weeks. Current eruption activity suggests that lava is unlikely to extend far from the crater into other hazard zones.
Consequently, the overall hazard rating in Zone 4 (Grindavík) has been downgraded from high (red) to considerable (orange). Hazard levels in other areas remain unchanged. The risk from gas emissions remains high across all areas except in the Sundhnúkur crater row area (Zone 3), where it is considered very high. Zones 4 (Grindavík) and 6 maintain a high hazard level due to sinkholes and fault movements.
The activity at the eruption site resumes and has now lasted for a month.
The main crater continues to generate the constant spattering of incandescent, juvenile and molten pyroclasts from where feeds the lava flow in the southern direction.
The lava flows predominantly towards the south but has not traveled a significant distance. Instead, it has accumulated and thickened near the crater rather than extending further in length.
Source: Icelandic Met Office volcano activity update 19 April 2024