REYKJAVIK. After weeks of continuous earthquakes and bated breath, the eruption of the Icelandic volcano began on Friday evening. The news was confirmed by the State Meteorological Center. The eruption began at the locality of Fagradalsfjall, the volcanic system where most of the earthquakes in recent days had concentrated.
We are in the Reykjanes peninsula, in the southwestern part of Iceland, just below the capital Reykjavík, an area where 60% of the population lives and where the Keflavík International Airport is located. An area, moreover, economically important in the country, the one that has suffered most from the effect of Covid.
The greatest danger is that the lava may soon threaten the road linking the country to the airport. Moreover, it is the most important artery in the country.
The Icelandic government fears it could become a tourist eruption, capable of attracting onlookers unaware of the danger. The Civil Protection is already projected to procure overseas (as already happened in 1973) huge hydraulic pumps capable of shooting the sea water in mammoth quantities to solidify the lava and create barriers to divert its course.