MONDAY OCTOBER 14 1996
Eruption dying down
The Vatnajökull eruption appears to be dying down after more than a week of
intense activity that has enthralled a world wide audience. Scientists and
journalists who flew over the site of one of Iceland's largest eruptions of the
century yesterday reported that the clouds of ash that had at one time billowed
20,000 feet into the sky were mixing with a fog that was lying over the glacier.
Scientists using seismic measuring equipment say they are detecting little if any
movement or activity.
A radio journalist flying over the site yesterday witnessed a huge ash explosion
within the crater which seemed to then bring a calm to the proceedings. It was
then possible he said to get a good view of the crater and the immense caldera
that has formed deep within the glacier. The battle between fire and ice could
quite clearly be seen with a great deal of water surrounding the new summit of
the ice-submerged volcano. For hundreds of metres, many wide and deep cracks
and crevices score the immediate vicinity, reminding of the intense heat that
continues to have an effect over a wide area.
Foreign media reporting of eruption causing many to be
anxious
The Vatnajökull eruption is causing widespread concern among those who are or
were planning on visiting Iceland.
Overdramatical reporting of the events by foreign news teams that have failed to
put the eruption in context with the size of the country, has lead many to make
anxious enquiries. One person asked if Icelanders were all now wearing gas
masks to protect against poisonous gasses while others have asked whether
Keflavík International Airport remains open. Bookings for trans-Atlantic flights
are being effected with many from Scandinavia indicating that they do not want to
make a stopover in Iceland.
The Icelandic Tourist Board has sent statements to travel agencies and tour
operators around the world explaining the volcanic activity and pointing out that
it is occurring in places far away from human settlement.