Aerial view of wildfires around the eruptions. Photo: Guðmundur Bergkvist.

There is a risk of explosion at the eruption site, as lava flows and wildfires burn at a contaminated US military training site. We didn't need the extra work, says the fire chief.

The power of Thursday's eruption has lessened significantly in three days , but it still gives cause for concern.

One reason is that lava is flowing through Vogaheiði, which was a training ground for the US Army from 1952 to 1960.

There is quite a sizeable area here contaminated by munitions [from that time]. There is therefore a certain danger when there is fire and lava flowing over, says Jónas Karl Þorvaldsson, head of the Coast Guard's special operations team.

So could explosions occur due to overflowing lava?

Jónas Karl Þorvaldsson, head of the special operations team of the Coast Guard. Photo: Guðmundur Bergkvist.

It is very difficult to say. The danger is there. We don't know exactly where they are, but we know they're there, he says.

We didn't need any more work like this, and [these] new scenarios. It would be nice to skip this and have it 'normal'. But we deal with this like any other problem and solve it, says Einar Sveinn Jónsson, fire chief in Grindavík.

The eruption at the Sundhnúks crater series has stabilised. The lava flows mostly to the northwest, and also over areas of dry moss, with associated vegetation fires.

The area that is on fire right now is very difficult, actually the most difficult area that there has been so far, adds Einar - who is not dealing with wildfires for the first time.

Einar is also concerned about the area's previous use.

It's very much off-road, and to make it even more difficult for us, this is an old area where the army had bomb drills, and is a dirty area, so bombs can be hidden there, he says.

The old training area extends from Litla Skógfell to Reykjanesbraut. The Coast Guard's Jónas Karl says it is almost impossible to entirely clean up this area, because it is so rough.

Source: Mapcarta

It's been cleaned three times, but things are still being found there. [But] if there's no one in the area, there's no danger.

Are people still walking up to the volcano?

Yes, people are doing that, in defiance of orders.

There is currently a northward extension of the eruption area, and pollution is blowing out to sea. Fire chief Einar says the fire does not threaten infrastructure at the moment.

Source: RUV

Read more on the 2023–2024 Sundhnúkur eruptions here

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