Increase levels of volcanic activity for Öræfajökull volcanic glacier, Iceland

The Icelandic Met Office issued a yellow warning on 17 November 2017 for the Öræfajökull volcanic glacier in southeast Iceland. A yellow warning indicates higher than normal levels of volcanic activity. The Civil Protection Agency has declared an uncertainty phase, which is a warning that there could be a threat in the near future. This volcano is dangerous also because when the ice on top melts, it can cause flooding that can reach the coastline in only 20 minutes. About 200 farmers live in this area, however, depending on the season, there can be as many as 2,000 to 3,000 tourists in the area.

Advice

If travelling in Iceland, monitor the Icelandic Met Office for updates, and follow any advice of local authorities. In case of an emergency, the Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management in Iceland will send out text messages to everyone in the area of Öræfajökull.