An Icelandic volcano has spewed lava within 500m of homes in the town of Grindavik, just weeks after residents were allowed to return to their homes following a major eruption.
Video footage shows an eruption took place at 7.57am local time on Sunday, with magma, smoke and ash spurting high into the sky above the town of Grindavik, 25 miles away from Iceland’s capital Reykjavik.
So, is it safe to travel to Iceland following the volcanic eruption in Grindavik? Are flights still going to Iceland?
Read on below for everything you need to know about the latest travel advice to the country.
The January 14 eruption (pictured) began north of the fishing town of Grindavik, and photos appear to show lava slowly flowing towards the town itself
Is it safe to travel to Iceland?
The latest advice on the government website urges travellers to check local media for the most up-to-date information and follow the advice given by local authorities.
Current advice from the government reads: ‘A volcanic eruption started on the Reykjanes peninsula in south-west Iceland on 14 January, north of the town of Grindavík. All roads to Grindavík are closed and you should stay away from the area.
It adds: ‘Reykjavik and the rest of Iceland have not been impacted. You should monitor local media for updates and follow the authorities’ advice.’
In the interest of safety, the government has also urged Brits to check alerts and advice from the Icelandic Met Office, Safe Travel Iceland and updates from Iceland’s national police commissioner on Facebook and X.
Have flights to Iceland been cancelled?
While Keflavik International Airport is operating as normal, anyone travelling to the area affected by the volcanic eruption should continually check for latest updates on the situation.
Iceland Air, the country’s national carrier, said today: ‘Our schedule and the operation of Keflavík airport are not affected.’
Per Isavia, the operator of airports across Iceland, flights to and from Keflavik are generally running without a hitch at the moment.
Local tourism hotspot, the Blue Lagoon hotel, however was evacuated last night, after reopening just a week ago.
A spokesman for the lagoon said: ‘All guests with bookings during this temporary closure period will be contacted. Guests wishing to modify or cancel their bookings are kindly directed to use the My Booking portal.’
What should I do if my flight gets cancelled?
If your flight is cancelled, you have a number of different options.
People watch as the night sky is illuminated caused by the eruption of a volcano in Grindavik on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula on December 18 2023
General view of the lava field near the evacuated town of Grindavik, in Iceland, December 22, 2023
You are legally entitled to a full refund, which includes other flights from the airline that you won’t use in the same booking, such as onward or return flights.
You are also entitled to a replacement flight to get you to your destination.
If your cancelled flight delays you by two hours or more, you have the legal right to be helped with costs.
If the replacement flight offered to you has delayed you by two hours or more, and you were given less than two weeks’ notice, you are legally entitled to compensation.