Medical and Hospital News
SHAKE AND BLOW
Iceland may spray water on lava to save town
Iceland may spray water on lava to save town
by AFP Staff Writers
Reykjavik (AFP) Nov 22, 2023

Icelandic authorities on Wednesday said they were considering pumping water onto any lava that spews out if a volcanic eruption threatens the evacuated town of Grindavik.

Authorities would use the water to cool and divert the flow of lava to protect the fishing port of 4,000 people on Iceland's southern Reykjanes peninsula.

Residents were ordered out on November 11 after magma shifting under the Earth's crust caused hundreds of earthquakes -- a warning of a likely volcanic eruption. Thousands of smaller tremors have shaken the region since.

But in a bulletin on Wednesday evening, the Icelandic meteorological office said the probability of a sudden eruption "is decreasing every day and is considered low" due to declining magma flow and seismic activity.

Authorities said that a state of emergency in place since November 11 would be lifted on Thursday at 1100 GMT.

Grindavik residents will be allowed to return in coming days to collect belongings, a civil protection statement added.

Civil protection and European experts will assess the possibility of "using high volume pumping to cool down the lava to protect the town of Grindavik and important infrastructures," Vidir Reynisson, Iceland's Head of Civil Protection and Emergency Management, told reporters.

The method was used in 1973, when a fissure erupted just 150 metres (164 yards) from the town centre on the island of Heimaey, surprising locals at dawn.

Residents had been able to successfully slow and control the spread of lava.

"An assessment technical team will arrive in Iceland tonight or tomorrow morning and they will assist us in assessing the possibilities," Reynisson said.

Iceland is home to 33 active volcano systems, the highest number in Europe, and experiences an eruption every four or five years on average.

Grindavik is located near the Svartsengi geothermal plant, the main supplier of electricity and water to 30,000 residents on the Reykjanes peninsula, as well as a freshwater reservoir.

It is also near the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa resort, a popular tourist destination which has closed as a precaution.

Authorities have in recent days been building reinforcements around the Svartsengi plant to protect it in the event of an eruption.

Related Links
Bringing Order To A World Of Disasters
When the Earth Quakes
A world of storm and tempest

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
SHAKE AND BLOW
Iceland PM says no country more prepared for volcano threat
Reykjavik (AFP) Nov 18, 2023
No other country than Iceland is better prepared for volcanos and other natural disasters, its prime minister said Saturday, as authorities brace for a potential lava eruption southwest of the capital Reykjavik. The roughly 4,000 residents of Grindavik, a fishing port around 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the capital, were evacuated on November 11 after magma shifting under the Earth's crust caused hundreds of earthquakes - a warning of a likely volcanic eruption. Thousands of smaller tremors ha ... read more

SHAKE AND BLOW
India tunnel collapse 'wake-up call' for Modi's infrastructure drive

EU agrees to continue aid to Palestinians after 'careful' review of funds

Indian rescuers drill two-thirds of way to 41 trapped workers

UN chief calls for 'dramatic' action to limit climate change

SHAKE AND BLOW
PASSport project testing

Zephr raises $3.5M to bring next-gen GPS to major industries

Satnav test on remote island lab

Trimble and Kyivstar to provide GNSS correction services in Ukraine

SHAKE AND BLOW
Fishing chimpanzees found to enjoy termites as a seasonal treat

Good neighbors: Bonobo study offers clues into early human alliances

How "blue" and "green" appeared in a language that didn't have words for them

Brain health in over 50s deteriorated more rapidly during the pandemic

SHAKE AND BLOW
Ay Karumba: 'Smelly' rats plague Australian fishing towns

Rare elephant twins born in Kenya

Vietnam jails ivory, rhino horn trafficker for 12 years

Critically endangered Sumatran elephant born in Indonesia

SHAKE AND BLOW
China reports no 'unusual or novel pathogens' in respiratory illnesses upsurge

WHO asks China for more data on respiratory illness

Disco, dogs help Hong Kong's elderly out of post-Covid isolation

What we know so far about surging respiratory illnesses in China

SHAKE AND BLOW
Dissident who fled China by jet ski convicted of illegal entry in S Korea

China says resettling people fleeing northern Myanmar clashes

Markets mostly drop as rate-hope rally loses steam

Tibet activists and pro-China supporters demonstrate at APEC summit

SHAKE AND BLOW
The fallen kings of crypto

US removes Chinese lab from sanctions in fentanyl crackdown deal

EU probes AliExpress to examine curbs on illegal products

Myanmar rebels fire top officials wanted by China for online scams

SHAKE AND BLOW
Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.