Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Remember this? The Eyjafjoell volcano in Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull glacier erupted in April 2010, causing serious flight disruption across Europe. AP/Press Association Images

Iceland evacuates tourists over heightened volcano eruption risk

The Irish Aviation Authority has told TheJournal.ie it is ‘closely monitoring’ the situation.

Updated at 1.20pm

AUTHORITIES IN ICELAND have evacuated tourists and hikers from an area close to the Bardarbunga volcano due to seismic activity recorded at the site since Saturday.

Iceland’s Civil Protection Authority told public broadcaster RUV that it had finished the evacuation from around the Bardarbunga volcano but that further air patrols would be carried out to ensure no-one remained.

The area is uninhabited, with only trekking cabins and campsites used by tourists and hunters in the summer months.

“We of course don’t know about all hikers and such, but we are going to look over the area with the aid of the Coast Guard and after that we should be very certain that no-one is in the area,” Vidir Reynisson at the Civil Protection Authority (CPA) told RUV.

The authority said the volcano was stable today, but still in danger of erupting.

Up to 300 people are believed to have been evacuated from the area around the volcano, and the country’s emergency services have been placed on ‘alert’.

Sitting on one of the most active seismic areas in the world, the volcano is Iceland’s second-highest peak and caps the country’s largest volcanic system.

Around 2,600 earthquakes have been detected since the earthquake swarm at Bardarbunga began on Saturday morning, the Icelandic Met Office said yesterday.

‘Closely monitoring the situation’

On Monday, the Icelandic Met Office raised its aviation alert to orange, it’s second-highest level, to signal the heightened risk of eruption at Bardarbunga.

The Irish Aviation Authority has confirmed to TheJournal.ie that is it monitoring the situation.

“The IAA is aware of the increased alert warning concerning the seismic activity that started on 16 August at Bárðarbunga in Iceland and is closely monitoring the situation,” IAA spokesperson Tony Lane said today.

“If any threats to aviation arise we will quickly inform the travelling public. At present all operations are normal.”

Below the surface

On Monday, seismologists recorded an earthquake of 4.5 on the Richter scale, the strongest in the region since 1996. The Icelandic Met Office said that seismic activity had significantly decreased by Monday evening.

Bardarbunga update IMO

The IMO said that although the seismic activity has been caused by magma intrusion, “the majority of events has been at 5-10km depth”.

No signs of migration towards the surface or any other signs of imminent or ongoing volcanic activity have been detected so far. IMO is monitoring the area around the clock very closely and will update in case of any changes.

Vidir Reynisson, department manager at Iceland’s Civil Protection Department, told broadcaster 365: ”We meet twice a day, but the earthquake activity still comes in waves. There do not seem to be any changes, but it is still very powerful.”

In 2010, the Eyjafjoell volcano under the Eyjafjallajokull glacier, further to the south, shot a massive plume of volcanic debris up to 9km into the sky, sending ash across the skies to mainland Europe.

- Additional reporting by © AFP, 2014

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
58 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Mc
    Favourite Paul Mc
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2015, 1:26 PM

    Joan Burton the peoples champion .
    Don’t make me laugh.

    256
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute An Ciarraioch
    Favourite An Ciarraioch
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2015, 1:35 PM

    iPhone Joan has completely lost her marbles recently.
    The likelihood of her losing her seat too, shortly , has driven her temperament to the house for the bewildered.
    That and the courting session that has begun between Enda & Mehole , which only confirms , that everyone now knows , that The Labour Party will be virtually nonexistent, following after the soon to be announced General Election!!!

    192
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Leslie Skinner
    Favourite Leslie Skinner
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2015, 1:43 PM

    As two faced as you can get,nothing genuine about her

    135
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Prov. Shinnerbot
    Favourite Prov. Shinnerbot
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2015, 2:06 PM

    Lads, why is Gerry less popular than iPhone Moanie Joanie in the opinion polls? Doesn’t make sense,

    79
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thomas Aquinas
    Favourite Thomas Aquinas
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2015, 2:56 PM

    Well Empress Maria Louisa is simply looking after her support base… sure all teachers are on the Spin Feign ten cent payroll… look at them all out off the leash today… woof woof

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lydia McLoughlin
    Favourite Lydia McLoughlin
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2015, 3:26 PM

    I’d say it’s rigged!

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sam Bartell
    Favourite Sam Bartell
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2015, 1:28 PM

    Keep digging there iphone, everytime you open your mouth its another nail in labours coffin.

    190
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joseph O'Regan
    Favourite Joseph O'Regan
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2015, 1:45 PM

    The Government are not listening to the people, they never did. When questioned by the opposition they simply ignore the question and make some silly unrelated waffle.

    186
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dot Com
    Favourite Dot Com
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2015, 3:58 PM

    We are under the power of a dictatorship pure and simple, They don’t care about you or me or if your kids or mine are hungry or cold they have quangos to re fair you to for answers to those issues. They imposed a home tax and a water tax against the will of the people, Fine Gael and Labor never again Rotten shower of get rich quick opportunists.

    63
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Hevin Bear Kiggins
    Favourite Hevin Bear Kiggins
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2015, 1:29 PM

    I feel embarrassed for the people of Dublin West.

    112
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute D is Illusioned
    Favourite D is Illusioned
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2015, 1:57 PM

    Goodbye Joan.

    99
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Andy Poole
    Favourite Andy Poole
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2015, 1:25 PM

    Let she who is without sin…..

    93
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Uncle Mort
    Favourite Uncle Mort
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2015, 1:27 PM

    do page 3.

    77
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Charles Coughlan
    Favourite Charles Coughlan
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2015, 2:54 PM

    Pic of Joan Burton clothed even would turn me off a newspaper for life

    51
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute TR909
    Favourite TR909
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2015, 3:01 PM

    When the governments backs are against the wall, they seem to have only one plan: attack Sinn Féin.

    Hundreds of people on trollers? Attack Sinn Féin.
    Homeless people dying on our streets? Attack Sinn Féin.
    Not representing the people who put them in power? Attack Sinn Féin.

    The list of incompetence is endless.

    94
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute TR909
    Favourite TR909
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2015, 3:01 PM

    *should read hundreds of people in trollies.

    38
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fintan Stack
    Favourite Fintan Stack
    Report
    Jan 23rd 2015, 8:41 PM

    Not so smart iJoan burton must have requested a truthful comment about her to be deleted. What a pathetic inhumane individual. Delete away, doesn’t change the poor way she treats the people of Ireland.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sheik Yahbouti
    Favourite Sheik Yahbouti
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2015, 2:38 PM

    As an erstwhile Labour voter – (I know, I know, but I am a working class person) – I come to bury JobBridge Joan, not to praise her. How this woman, who has connived in ,and indeed initiated, the most anti social and anti working class measures in this country since the 1920′s can criticize anyone, ANYONE, absolutely beggars belief. I hold no particular brief for Ms. McDonald, but this shameless bid to smear political opponents should not be allowed to pass unchallenged. Shame on you, you patronizing, multi pensioned baggage. LEAVE NOW, before you are dragged out of Leinster House and thrown in the gutter where you belong.

    85
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sheik Yahbouti
    Favourite Sheik Yahbouti
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2015, 2:59 PM

    Oh, Pontius, that was a mere aside. Believe me, I have a whole lot more that I could say, but brevity being the soul…. and all that!

    51
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lawrence Cleary
    Favourite Lawrence Cleary
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2015, 2:10 PM

    It is not just Joan. They all are doing it, especially when the marginalised party members speak (though it is difficult to think of SF as marginalised anymore, but in the Dail, they are). They attack the person. It is a strategy of FF/FG/Lab to attack people first and mmmmmmaybe, then, address the issue. It’s dysfunctional.

    83
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Al Ca
    Favourite Al Ca
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2015, 2:14 PM

    “Burton said she regularly visits both “well-off” schools and those in “poorer communities” through her job,”

    Guess iJoan doesn’t visit schools in poorer communities as much as she use to, since she developed Globophobia.

    73
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Blessing
    Favourite John Blessing
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2015, 2:15 PM

    If Joan Burton is saying Mary Luo is a saint then Joan must be a Satanist.

    65
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute amos brearly
    Favourite amos brearly
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2015, 1:30 PM

    i like Mary Lou. She is a true Fianna Failer.

    62
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Denito
    Favourite Denito
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2015, 2:17 PM

    Bang on. What she is quoted as saying in the above article is pure mealy-mouthed blather.

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute mrmeade
    Favourite mrmeade
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2015, 3:46 PM

    I cant even stomach reading about Iphone Joan, never mind hearing her head melting voice. The sooner she is out of government the better,

    51
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ken Pepper
    Favourite Ken Pepper
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2015, 2:55 PM

    CAN I JUST SAY bye bye joan! FOR THE PEOPLE

    50
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ignoreland
    Favourite Ignoreland
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2015, 1:55 PM

    SF jumping on another bandwagon, I see.
    There is zero mention of Junior Cert reform in SF’s manifesto from the last general election: http://www.sinnfein.ie/files/2011/SF_GeneralElectionManifesto2011.pdf

    42
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dain Flemming
    Favourite Dain Flemming
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2015, 4:56 PM

    It seems a bit rich for a Labour TD to pass any remark on where people went to school…it seems to me that more than on of their own had a fee paying Education and at least one confirmed that was important by sending his children to fee paying schools?

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Johnny Downes
    Favourite Johnny Downes
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2015, 2:57 PM

    St. Jude is Moanie Joan’s new Patron Saint.

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gis Bayertz
    Favourite Gis Bayertz
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2015, 5:43 PM

    Burton is a dipstick and will be political history soon enough

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom
    Favourite Tom
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2015, 1:35 PM

    Labour getting their mojo back. About time.

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sam Bartell
    Favourite Sam Bartell
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2015, 1:49 PM

    Mojo? More like voodoo zombies.

    84
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Ward
    Favourite John Ward
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2015, 2:00 PM

    Mojo?
    Does that stand for Mad Old Joan?!

    77
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sheik Yahbouti
    Favourite Sheik Yahbouti
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2015, 2:39 PM

    John, that was a goodie!! :-D

    38
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Liam Ó Séicspéir
    Favourite Liam Ó Séicspéir
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2015, 3:32 PM

    So they have at least 18 votes in 2016 then? Or are the green thumbers just being kind?

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Johnny McEvoy
    Favourite Johnny McEvoy
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2015, 6:18 PM

    What a witch she is most hated person in the Country now her and Enda The people can not stand them any more

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute O Yassoon
    Favourite O Yassoon
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2015, 1:40 PM

    They has, has they?

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Liam Ó Séicspéir
    Favourite Liam Ó Séicspéir
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2015, 3:30 PM

    Mary Lou is getting terrible crow’s feet and Joan looks like she’s melting. It’s time to get some attractive women in senior party positions. In the North, we have delights such as Arlene Foster, Naomi Long and Carál Ní Chúilín. Now they’re riding material.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thomas Aquinas
    Favourite Thomas Aquinas
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2015, 3:53 PM

    It’s time to get casually sexist lads.. let’s all talk about women’s appearances and not mention once how the men look… except willie o’dea.. we have to mention him and his magnificent moustache. And doesn’t Micky Wallace’s beard look awful

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Liam Ó Séicspéir
    Favourite Liam Ó Séicspéir
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2015, 4:07 PM

    I love a bit of casual sexism. Don’t be knocking it.

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Sands
    Favourite Michael Sands
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2015, 6:14 PM

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2026450/One-teachers-bullied-online-parents-pupils.html
    “Facebook and Twitter have been used to intimidate teachers over bad grades or simply because they are not liked.
    More than a quarter of those that admit they have been targeted say the abuse has come from parents with one headteacher was driven to the brink of suicide by a year-long online hate campaign.
    One parent even set up a ‘Google group’ and asked others to join in their abuse.”

    Does the government not get it, when teachers mark their own students, then if the student gets a bad score who do you think their parents will take this out on, their child or the teacher?

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Sands
    Favourite Michael Sands
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2015, 6:31 PM

    http://www.theguardian.com/education/2010/mar/30/teachers-bullied-online
    “More than one in seven teachers has been the victim of cyberbullying by pupils or parents, and almost half know a colleague who has been targeted, according to a survey published today.
    Students have set up “hate” groups on social networking sites calling for specific teachers to be sacked and have even created fake profiles in their names containing defamatory information.”

    http://www.exaronews.com/articles/5066/more-than-a-third-of-teachers-bullied-and-threatened-by-parents
    Over 40% of teachers threatened by parents and .3% of 14,000 teachers was physical abuse by parents. This is what self assessing will do as it has happened in England and bringing this in here will do the same.
    Parents are going to bully the teachers here because when their child is upset due to a poor or poorer grade they blame the teacher but this government do not care and all that this does is make teachers stop teaching and is that what the government wants?

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Sands
    Favourite Michael Sands
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2015, 6:33 PM

    http://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/2011/oct/03/bullying
    “I am an ICT teacher and feel that I have to give students high marks or be labelled incompetent. There is nowhere in the system that you can bring this to light.”
    “My health was so badly affected that I had no option but to leave.”
    It will be the same here and the government does not care and when someone sticks up for the teachers, they get shot down why?
    The fact is the government are bullies and they are promoting now the bullying of teachers and anyone who tries to make a point like Mary Lou is then attack by a person who acts like a bully?

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Powerabbey
    Favourite Powerabbey
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2015, 5:37 PM

    I thought that Mary Lou would do a sit-in if she was really passionate about the rights of teachers.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute zacaramanta
    Favourite zacaramanta
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2015, 8:42 PM

    iPhone Joan will have no prob getting job when she gets gate this year
    “Haunting houses she will clean up”

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mark O'Hagan
    Favourite Mark O'Hagan
    Report
    Jan 22nd 2015, 5:41 PM

    Some mistake surely, shouldn’t Lairy Moo be compared to a martyr instead?

    5
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.