TUESDAY OCTOBER 1, 1996
Volcano erupts under Europe's largest glacier
Bárdabunga, a volcano which lies buried under Vatnajökull, Europe's largest glacier, began erupting this morning, causing huge
depressions to appear in the hundreds metres thick ice above the crater.
Civil defence planners are anxious lest the sheer amount of water which such a sub-glacial eruption produces should start
escaping into populated districts near the glacier.
Scientists had warned that an eruption was possible after earthquakes of up to force five on the Richter scale hit the area around
the volcano on Sunday.
Authorities had also issued a statement warning travellers and pilots to avoid the ground and airspace around the volcano.