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About the Volcano Eruption at Fagradalsfjall

During the August 2022 eruption, the volcano was not thought to be a threat by the Icelandic authorities and flights were not affected.

Although the eruption has stopped, you can still go to the Meradalir eruption site, so long as weather conditions are right on the day of your visit.

Read on to learn more about visiting the latest volcanic eruption site in Iceland. Here you’ll be able to see fissures and freshly formed lava fields. Make sure to check out our safety tips for visiting the site before you go.

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Frequently Asked Questions

To help answer your queries about the volcano eruption in Iceland, our local travel experts have compiled their safety advice and travel tips below. They are based in the Icelandic capital, Reykjavík, and have all the latest updates for you.

The volcano eruption started on 3 August 2022, following a few days of strong seismic activity in the surrounding area, including Reykjavík. Relatively small fissures in the earth opened up and magma appeared on the surface.

This is in the same area as the previous volcanic eruption in Iceland, which officially lasted from 19 March to 16 December 2021. Experts predict that the volcanic activity will continue in the region for some time. So although the eruption has stopped, it could begin again.

The eruption took place in the Meradalir valley, an uninhabited region in the Reykjanes peninsula, southwest Iceland. It is near Geldingadalur, the site of the 2021 Fagradalsfjall eruption.

The Reykjanes peninsula is a UNESCO Global Geopark teeming with volcanic landscapes and geothermal activity, due to the pulling apart of two tectonic plates. It is the only place in the world where you can see the North Atlantic Ridge on land.

Fagradalsfjall is 32 kilometres (20 miles) away from Reykjavík. While earthquakes were felt in the capital during the eruption, the authorities said that people are not in any immediate danger.

Yes, it’s safe to visit Iceland. And even if volcanic activity begins here again experts think it will likely be similar to the August 2022 eruption. This means that there should be no flight disruptions. Plus, the main highway around Iceland – the Ring Road – was not affected by the lava fields and is open as usual.

At the moment, there is no need to alter any of your travel plans due to this past eruption. But you can always contact your personal travel consultant if you are in doubt about any part of your itinerary.

As nature can be unpredictable and the current situation may change, we are following updates from the authorities about the volcano. And we will do our best to keep all of our travellers well-informed about anything that could impact their travel plans in the future.

Flights were not disrupted by the eruption that took place in August 2022. The type of eruption meant that there were no ash clouds, similar to the previous Fagradalsfjall eruption in 2021, when flights were not affected.

You can check the website of Keflavík Airport for any flight-related updates.

Yes, you can visit the Fagradalsfjall volcano to check out the fresh lava fields.

Bear in mind that you will only be able to reach the volcano if the weather conditions allow. Don’t attempt to hike there unless it is confirmed on the day that it is safe to do so.

• Check the SafeTravel website for any alerts about the site before you embark on your hike.

• Review the weather forecast each day on the Iceland Meteorological Office website.

It is possible that there will be more earthquakes if volcanic activity resumes in the region. The most powerful earthquake during the last eruption had a magnitude of 5.4.

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