The current eruption is “small” with “volcanic activity” having “decreased somewhat” in the area, the agency said on Twitter. The eruptive fissure is approximately 500-700 meters long, according to IMO, with the lava area measuring less than a square kilometer.
Despite this reduction in activity, lava flows still represent a “local danger”, said IMO.
“Gas pollution is not expected to cause much discomfort for people, except near the source of the outbreak,” added another tweet.
IMO continues to monitor gas emissions after Friday’s spectacular eruption, which prompted authorities to divert citizens from the main Reykjanesbraut highway.
Concerns have been raised about the volcano’s proximity to the country’s main airport, Keflavik International Airport, which is just a 25-minute drive from the peninsula.
The aviation color code for the airport was reduced from red to orange on Saturday due to IMO forecasts of minimum ash fall.
Iceland’s Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management said on Friday night that people within a radius of several kilometers from the volcano would close their windows and stay indoors to prevent the effects of volcanic gas in the air.
“Volcanic gas pollution is expected to extend into Þorlákshöfn and continue into the night. People are asked to close the windows and stay at home. The status and amount of SO2 emissions from the eruption are being assessed,” the agency tweeted on Friday. -market.
“This is slightly less seismic activity compared to previous mornings, where the numbers are around 1,000 earthquakes,” added IMO in a tweet on Thursday.