Til þeirra sem eru í samskiptum við ferðamenn
Í ljósi frétta dagsins frá Grindavík | English below.
Líkt og vart hefur farið framhjá neinum þá er nýtt gos hafið við Grindavík
Fréttir af gosinu hafa eins og við er að búast þegar birst í fjölmiðlum erlendis og eru lesnar af erlendum gestum sem hér eru staddir eða hyggja á ferð til landsins. Mikilvægt er nú sem fyrr að við tökum höndum saman um að halda gestum okkar upplýstum um stöðuna og áhrif sem atburðirnir á Reykjanesi hafa á ferðalög fólks.
Neðst í póstinum er texti á ensku sem Íslandsstofa tók saman og aðilar í ferðaþjónustu geta nýtt til að bregast við fyrirspurnum frá viðskiptavinum sínum erlendis um stöðuna. Hann getur einnig nýst fyrir starfsfólk í framlínu til að veita upplýsingar.
Þennan texta er einnig að finna á Visit Iceland síðunni þar sem reynt verður að halda honum uppfærðum eftir því sem á líður.
Visit Iceland | volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula
Þarna inn eigið þið þannig alltaf að geta sótt nýjustu upplýsingar.
Einnig má nefna að:
- Vert er að leggja áherslu við erlenda gesti okkar sem hér eru staddir að svæðið er lokað og fólk ætti ekki að reyna að komast að gosinu.
- Viðbragðsáætlun stjórnvalda og ferðaþjónustunnar hefur verið virkjuð
- Miðstöð fyrir erlenda fjölmiðla verður að líkindum opnuð seinna í dag á Reykjavík Natura Hótel.
----------------------------------
ENGLISH:
To those who are in contact with tourists - In light of today's news from Grindavík
As has been reported in the news today, a new eruption has started near the town of Grindavík. News of the eruption has, as expected, already appeared in the media abroad and is read by foreign visitors who are here or are planning a trip to the country. It is important now as before that we work together to keep visitors informed about the situation and the impact that the events in Reykjanes have on people's travels. It is worth stressing to our foreign visitors that the area is closed and people should not try to get to the eruption.
Below is updated text from Íslandsstofa/Business Iceland which tourism operators can use to inform their customers regarding the situation in Reykjanes.
This text can also be found on the Visit Iceland page, where we will try to keep it up to date as time goes on.
Visit Iceland | volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula
------------------------------------------------------------
VOLCANIC ERUPTION STARTED ON THE REYKJANES PENINSULA
January 14, 2024
A volcanic eruption started on Sunday, January 14, near Grindavík on the Reykjanes Peninsula. The town had previously been evacuated, and people were not in danger.
Key Takeaways:
- There is a volcanic eruption near the town Grindavík on the Reykjanes Peninsula
- The eruption's effects are confined to the town and the immediate area surrounding the eruption site. All services in Iceland are operating normally
- Flights to and from Iceland are operating on schedule, and disruption to flight traffic is considered highly unlikely
Since October 24, 2023, scientists at the Icelandic Meteorological Office have been carefully monitoring increased seismic activity on the Reykjanes Peninsula, which is considered a possible precursor to a volcanic eruption in the area. This development resulted in a short eruption that lasted from December 18-21, 2023, near the town of Grindavík. Volcanic activity returned on Sunday, January 14, when lava flow resumed in the area. All residents had previously been evacuated from the town.
Preliminary reports suggest that the lava flows are less voluminous than the previous eruption in December last year. This is a highly localized event, and the effects of the eruption are contained in the immediate area surrounding the eruption site. Iceland generally remains unaffected, and daily life outside of Grindavík proceeds as normal.
While the possibility of air traffic disturbance cannot be entirely ruled out, scientists consider it an improbable scenario. Typically, the impact of volcanic eruptions is confined to a specific, localized area near the eruption. Notably, previous eruptions in the area did not impact flights to and from the country.
The Icelandic Met Office, in collaboration with the Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management and a team of scientists from the University of Iceland, is actively monitoring the situation and thoroughly analyzing any unfolding developments.
The Icelandic Meteorological Office, The National Police Commissioner, The Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management, and a team of scientists from the University of Iceland have closely monitored this situation since the beginning and are constantly analyzing developments based on the best scientific data available.
Iceland is situated on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates diverge, making it one of the most active volcanic regions in the world. Regular seismic events, ranging from minor tremors to significant earthquakes, are a characteristic feature of Iceland's geology. Seismic activity in Iceland is often due to magma movement beneath the earth's crust. It may sometimes result in magma seeking the easiest path to the surface and becoming a volcanic eruption.
Iceland is no stranger to volcanic activity. Four eruptions have occurred on the Reykjanes Peninsula in the last three years. Icelandic authorities and the public are highly prepared for such events, and Iceland has one of the world's most effective volcanic preparedness measures. Iceland's geoscientists possess vast experience in dealing with volcanic activities.
More information:
- Iceland Ministry for Foreign Affairs
- The Icelandic MET office: Latest information on seismic activity and development of events
- Safetravel: Current updates on safety
- The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service: News coverage
- Visit Reykjanes: Updates from the region
For press inquiries, please contact press@itb.is.