Iceland downgrades volcano threat level

HELSINKI (Reuters) - Iceland's national police commissioner on Friday downgraded the threat level from the volcano that erupted earlier this week, the country's Civil Protection Agency said.

The eruption in Southwestern Iceland late on Monday followed weeks of seismic activity that had already led to a complete evacuation of a town with 4,000 inhabitants.

"Today, there is no visible activity in the volcano, so this decision was made," the Civil Protection authority said in a statement, adding the level was lowered from "emergency" to "danger".

A drone picture shows lava spewing from the site of the volcanic eruption north of Grindavik, Iceland, December 20, 2023. REUTERS/Marko Djurica

Iceland's meteorological office, however, warned that chances of an eruption in the region around the Svartsengi volcanic system, where magma continues to accumulate, are growing daily.

"This development will likely lead to another dike intrusion and, ultimately, a volcanic eruption," the office said in a statement on Friday evening.

Lava spews from the site of a volcanic eruption north of Grindavik, Iceland, December 20, 2023. (REUTERS/Marko Djurica/File Photo)