The Meteorological Office are encouraging people who plan to visit the eruption site to leave before 17:00 today as toxic gas is making the area very unsafe.
Gas pollution increases during the day and can be expected to be well above the health protection limit after seven in the evening.
Jam packed full of visitors
Many people have made their way to the site today due to the good weather.
At 10 o’ clock this morning, it was reported by RÚV that there was a two kilometre line of cars that had arrived at Suðurstrandarvegur, from where people started walking.
It’s also reported that hikers are far better equipped for the journey as the path there is a difficult one, despite improvements to the route being made.
Better weather means more gas
According to the Meteorological Office, better weather will also lead to more dangerous gases accumulating near volcanoes and in nearby valleys.
A meteorologist’s comment on the Meteorological Office’s website says that the amount of sulphur dioxide can exceed 9,000 micrometres per cubic meter near the eruption sites after seven o’clock tonight.
In addition, carbon dioxide can be expected to accumulate in depressions. People are therefore advised to leave the area before five o’clock in the afternoon and stay on the hills until then and do not go down into valleys or depressions.
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