The Foreign Office has updated its advice to British travellers, saying it is “increasingly possible” that a volcanic eruption could occur.
The town of 3,400 is on the Reykjanes Peninsula, about 30 miles south-west of the capital, Reykjavik. Volcanic eruptions pose a serious hazard to aviation because they can spew highly abrasive ash high into the atmosphere, where it can cause jet engines to fail, damage flight control systems and reduce visibility.
Concern about a possible eruption increased in the early hours of Thursday when a magnitude 4.8 earthquake hit the area, forcing the internationally known Blue Lagoon geothermal resort to close temporarily. Information on the Foreign Office's website reads that it is “increasingly possible” that a volcanic eruption could occur.