Please don’t come near the volcanic eruption, Iceland asks tourists

Authorities in Iceland on Thursday renewed calls for tourists to avoid the site of a volcanic eruption, a spectacular show of spewing lava, after a hiker had to be rescued by helicopter earlier this week.

The eruption occurred Monday evening in Iceland’s most populous area, sending fountains of lava into the sky. The area, the Reykjanes Peninsula, has experienced strong seismic activity since October, leading to the evacuation of Grindavik, a fishing village of 3,600, last month.

As soon as reports of the eruption first emerged, tourists and locals alike flocked to spots where they could see the glowing river of lava for themselves, even as authorities urged people to leave the area. The volume of lava has decreased since the eruption, as craters form along the 4.1 km-long rift.

“We don’t recommend anyone to go,” said Jona Jonasdottir, a police officer in Keflavik. Ms Jonasdottir said people tried to get close to the volcano but turned away because of the difficult terrain or because they were stopped by police.

Patrols found people in “the strangest places,” Eyjolfur Jonsson, a firefighter on duty at the search and rescue headquarters in Grindavik, said Thursday. “Because the main road is closed, people start the walk from different places.”

The Icelandic Meteorological Service said Thursday that although the rift appeared to have stopped spewing lava, cinders were still visible in the lava bed and it was too early to declare the area safe.

Police warned people to “think four timesBefore embarking on an ‘extremely challenging’ hike to the eruption site, approximately 12 miles round trip from the Reykjanesbraut highway. About 0.3 miles in, the trail becomes difficult to cross due to rough lava.

“It can be assumed that it will take an experienced hiker about four to five hours to walk this route, which is not for everyone,” the police statement said. In southwestern Iceland there was about four hours of daylight on Thursday.

Police also mentioned the gas pollution in the area in their statement, and even Christmas, saying: “We want first responders such as rescuers to be able to stay at home during the holidays.”

A helicopter on Tuesday rescued a hiker who became “exhausted, cold and shaken” midway through the eruption, police said. Hjordis Gudmundsdottir, a government spokeswoman, said the terrain around the eruption was difficult, with unstable lava and cracks hidden beneath the snow. “As we have seen in the past, people overestimate their abilities,” Ms. Gudmundsdottir said.

Search and rescue team member Emil Karason said he encountered two hikers who completed the journey early Thursday morning. Mr Karason said one of the hikers, an Icelander, had completed the hike for the second time. They were both experienced hikers and didn’t need any help, he said, but he still gave them a ride back for the last stretch.