“Many people try to approach the volcano crater in Geldingadalur. It’s very dangerous, ”says volcanologist Þorvaldur Þórðarson. It has already been warned many times not to walk on lava.
“At the eruption site you should be very careful and not get too close to the crater, because there are places with lava in the form of a fairly thin crust” Explains Þorvaldur Þórðarson. “Frozen lava forms a crust under which in many places there is only a large gas bubble and a hole up to several meters deep. Such a shell can collapse under the weight of a person and one can fall into such a hole “ – he adds. For example, in volcanic areas in Hawaii, people often break their legs under such circumstances.
Yesterday around two o’clock a man was seen walking along the rim of the crater in Geldingadalur. Helicopter passenger from Helo Helicopter Service recorded it. Helicopter pilot, Sólveig Pétursdóttir, says she had never seen so many people on lava, and at half past three a photo of two more people walking up the crater was received.
Þorvaldur says it is only a matter of time before the rim of the crater cracks and collapses. The crater is up to one hundred meters deep, so falling off it will be like flying from the tower of Hallgrímskirkja church.
There is also a risk of sulfur poisoning in the area. “There is still gas coming out of the crater” Says Þorvaldur. “Sulfur poisoning is no joke, it has long-term effects that a person exposed to inhalation of its fumes can experience for the rest of his life.”
In Geldingadalur, the lava has stopped flowing for more than three weeks, but magma or embers have been observed on the slope between Geldingadalur and Nátthaga. “And where there is hot molten rock, it is always dangerous” Says Þorvaldur.
Source: Yle