11:45 a.m. ET, December 19, 2023
Lava flow has fallen to “a quarter” of Monday's level – but Reykjavik could be affected by gas pollution, according to the weather service
By CNN's Caitlin Danaher in London. This image, created from video and provided by the Icelandic Coast Guard, shows magma flowing on a hill near Grindavik, Iceland, late Monday evening. Icelandic Coast Guard via AP
The extent of the volcanic eruption on Iceland's Reykjanes peninsula “continues to decrease”, with lava flow falling to just “a quarter” of Monday's levels, the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) said in an update on Tuesday.
Gas pollution could be felt on Tuesday in Vestmannaeyjar, an archipelago off the southern coast of Iceland, but other populated areas were not affected, the IMO added.
However, based on the weather forecast, gas pollution could reach the capital area where Reykjavík is located late Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning, according to the IMO.
The magma fountains are lower than when the eruption began, “reaching about 30 meters at their highest point,” which is about 98 feet, the IMO said. Currently, there are five eruption vents distributed along the original volcanic fissure, but the length of the fissure remains unchanged, the Met office added.
Meanwhile, Landsnet, an electricity distribution agency in Iceland, has raised its alert level to “emergency level,” a Landsnet spokesperson told CNN in an email.
Landsnet “is examining possible lava flow scenarios and assessing whether further preparations are necessary to protect the transmission infrastructure,” the spokesman said.
The company wants to build defenses around three electricity pylons located outside the protective wall around the Svartsengi power plant. However, the spokesman told CNN that no power outages were expected.
The main power line supplying the Reykjanes peninsula, called “Suðurnesjalína 1,” was not affected by the volcanic eruption and is not in danger, the spokesman added.