VestmannaeyjarVestmannaeyjar is located on an island in the south of Iceland. The island is surrounded by faults and is close to the Oceanic Ridge. There are two volcanoes : Eldfell and Helgafell.

This is an eruption of

volcano Eldfell

The regionThe region at stake is very close to an Oceanic Ridge. The volcano is active because a fault runs through it.The old volcano (Helgafell) is not active now as the fault does not run through it anymore.

In 1973 volcano Eldfell started to erupt and subsequently the area of the island increased of several square meters.Part of the island is made of basalt rock.The lava flows even went up as far as 45 meters high.

This is the area of the island which is made of basalt rock.Volcano EldfellVolcano Helgafell

The protection services of the island stated that the 1973 eruption was over after it lasted 5 months and 10 days.It will have produced 250 cubic meters of lava and ashes.5,5 million ton of seawater were poured onto the lava to cool it down. 400 houses (nearly 30% of the town) went under the lava.

Automatic stations that can resist any weather conditions are working permanently on the volcano :

Sismometers keep sending recordings to the observatory place

Many types of measure instruments and GPS stations measure the distorsions of the building even if only millimeters are concerned.

Means to forecast volcanic eruptions

Measure instruments to

forecast volcanic eruptions

Means of Prevention

There are means of prevention that help to prevent or limit potential risks.

There are reflexes that can save one's life and that one needs to learn about.

In order to get to know those reflexes, one needs to take part in simulations, and to tell the population on the zone at stake about them.