Icelandic rescue helicopter flying into action after a volcanic eruption in Iceland.
As the footage of the helicopter shows, the night sky was lit up by the deep orange glow from the molten rock that instantly evaporated the snow as it advanced forwards.
The thrill seekers all jumped into cars and sped to the region in order to get the chance to see a volcano eruption up close after it took place 2.4 miles from the town of Grindavik just after 10 pm on Monday at the Sundhjuka crater, on the Reykjanes peninsula.
In a statement released by the Icelandic Coast Guard, they confirmed that they had rushed to the scene to keep people safe saying: “The staff of the Coast Guard have had a lot of work to do, just like other responders due to the volcanic eruption that started north of Grindavík at eleven o’clock yesterday.
“As soon as the command centre of the Coast Guard received a notification that an eruption had begun. A helicopter crew was called out to fly with three scientists so that the extent of the eruption, the length of the fissure and the flow of lava could be assessed.
“The guard ship por, which was sailing off Sandgerdi, was already directed to Grindavik and arrived there around midnight. At the request of Sudurnesj operations management. Þór will remain available at Grindavík until further notice.
Volcano’s Otherworldly Red-Hot Lava Eruption
“The Coast Guard’s special operations team was sent to the security area at Keflavik Airport to support the activities of the Defence Department.
“One fishing vessel was known to be in the port of Grindavik, the liner Fjolni GK, and in consultation with the shipping company Visi hf. And the police chief in Sudurnes decided to ferry it from Grindavík. The ship’s crew was located in the capital area, and the Coast Guard’s special operations team was responsible for ferrying the crew via Krýsuvíkurleið and Suðurstrandarveg to Grindavík. Then the crew on v/s Þór was available if help was needed. The ship left Grindavík free after five o’clock.
“At five o’clock tonight, the crew of TF-EIR went back on a scientific flight with four scientists over the turbulent zone. The helicopter landed back in Reykjavík at 5:30. Two employees of the Coast Guard were in the coordination centre of the civil defence in Skogarhlíd last night.”
The latest eruption follows a series of earthquakes that led to thousands of people being evacuated last month. And state of emergency declared across the country.
Magnus Tumi Gudmundsson, a scientist who flew over the site on Tuesday morning onboard a Coast Guard research flight. Told Icelandic broadcaster RUV that he estimates twice as much lava had already spewed than the entire monthlong eruption on the peninsula this summer.
Long River Of Molten Lava Flows Towards Coast On Galapagos Island
Gudmundsson said the eruption was expected to continue decreasing in intensity but that scientists have no idea how long it could last. He said: It can be over in a week, or it could take quite a bit longer.”
The Icelandic Ministry of the Environment L urged people to stay away and not put their lives at risk.
To find out more about the author, editor or agency that supplied this story – please click below.
Story By: Michael Leidig, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Newsflash
The Ananova page is created by and dedicated to professional, independent freelance journalists. It is a place for us to showcase our work. When our news is sold to our media partners, we will include the link here.
