Saturday, a volcano erupted in the south of Iceland and hundreds of people fled the area. The volcano spewed lava into an area where very little ice was found, and smoke appeared above the volcano almost a kilometer high. No deaths or injuries have been reported. A state of emergency was declared in the immediate area.

This announcement was made sent by Iceland rescue authorities:

Evacuation in response to the volcanic eruption in Eyjafjallajökull glacier has concluded after an extremely rapid response, according to officials. Everyone known to have been in the area has been brought to safety and is now accounted for.

Currently the eruption appears to be limited to an area where there is little ice – meaning there is no longer believed to be an imminent threat of a flood unless the eruption spreads along the fissure.

The eruption is however close enough to the glacier to warrant concern and a state of local emergency has been declared and emergency response plans initiated. The National Emergency coordination centre in Skógarhlið, Reykjavik, has been activated and is operational. Response teams have been dispatched to the area and the situation is being closely monitored. The Local Emergency operations centre has been established in Hella.

Three Red Cross mass care centres have been opened in the villages of Hella, Hvolsvöllur and Vík. Red Cross volunteers are ready to receive people. The Red Cross helpline, 1717, is open and able to provide information about the eruption to members of the public.

Source: Iceland Review