Evacuation in Iceland

More than 600 people who were evacuated from their homes close to an erupting volcano in southern Iceland have been told they can return, but at their own risk.
Initial fears that the normally dormant volcano could trigger widespread flooding have not so far been realised, informs Euronews.
Geophysicist Magnus Gudmundsson said: “At the moment it’s not melting any ice so there is no flood. But we cannot be sure that it will not extend into the glacier, so the authorities are on full alert and while this eruption is ongoing, we will monitor it very closely.”
As a precaution, evacuation centres were set up and a state of emergency declared after the volcano started spewing lava late on Saturday night. But the most immediate threat appears to have been directed more towards livestock because of the emission of caustic gases.

23.03.10