RSOE Emergency and Disaster Information Service Budapest, Hungary

[elifino]

A volcano in southern Iceland has erupted, forcing hundreds of people living nearby to evacate their homes. Eyewitnesses say they can see flames and a steady stream of lava from the Eyjafallajoekull glacier. Sigurgeir Gudmundsson of the Icelandic civil protections said: "We estimate that no one is in danger in the area but we have started an evacuation plan and between 500 and 600 people are being evacuated." Public broadcaster RUV reported that the eruption had started shortly after midnight and that the area's main road had been closed. It added that three Iceland-bound Icelandair flights, out of Boston, Orlando and Seattle, had been ordered to turn back to the United States. It said local residents were being evacuated because of the risk of flooding caused by melting glacier waters. "Ash has already begun to fall in Fljotshlid and people in the surrounding area have reported seeing bright lights emanating from the glacier," RUV said. "There is currently no sign of flooding, but it could be imminent according to experts," it added. "It is not clear exactly where the eruption is taking place but it is being investigated." A volcano in the area of the Eyjafjallajokull glacier last erupted in 1821 and 1823.