Foreign Office issues travel warning to anyone heading to Iceland

Tourists heading to Iceland have been warned to ‘stay away’ from parts of the country following a series of new volcanic eruptions.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDI) has updated its travel advice after a volcano in south-western Iceland erupted on Wednesday afternoon. The say the risk of further eruptions r’emains high’.

It caused the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa – a popular tourist destination – to be evacuated, as well as the coastal town of Grindavik.

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In an update for its Iceland travel advice, the FCDO said: “Recently there has been a series of volcanic eruptions on the Reykjanes peninsula in south-west Iceland, the latest on 29 May.

“These have affected the town of Grindavik and the area to the north of it. Stay away from this area. All roads to Grindavik and the surrounding area are closed.

“The likelihood of further eruptions in this location remains high. Check local media for updates and follow the Iceland authorities’ advice on travel to the area.”

Iceland, which sits above a volcanic hot spot in the North Atlantic, sees regular eruptions. The most disruptive in recent times was the 2010 eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which spewed huge clouds of ash into the atmosphere and led to widespread airspace closures over Europe.

The latest eruptions signal a reawakening of the Svartsengi volcanic system after almost 800 years of quiet.

It is unclear when the period of activity will end or what it means for the Reykjanes Peninsula, one of the most densely populated parts of Iceland.