Volcanic activity is frequent in Iceland due to its position astride the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the North American and Eurasian Plates are moving apart.
In 23rd January 1973 there was a volcanic eruption which happened in Heimaey, one of the islands situated in the Western Islands of Iceland. There lies volcano Helgafell, a 200 metre high volcanic cone. When the Helgafell erupted on 23rd January, there was lava fountaining about 50 to 150 metres high. The largest tremor felt before was 2.7 on the Richer scale.
Soon after the eruption, Heimaey was evacuated as the lava was flowing towards the town and there may be a heavy ash fall. Most of the population left by boat, other than patients from the hospital and the elderly who were evacuated by air. The cattle were slaughtered.
The houses were mostly demolished. By February, the falling ash lessened, but lava flows were beginning to cause serious damage. Underwater activity severed an electric power cable and a water pipeline which supplied electrical power and water from the Icelandic mainland. Carbon dioxide and small quantities of poisonous gases became concentrated in buildings partially buried under tephra, suffocating several people when they entered the buildings.
A concrete water tank partially crushed by lava
Spraying lava flows with water in Hawaii proved to have limited success, but it was calculated that spraying the lava flows with more sea water should slow them easily. On 7th February the operation started. Though the amount of water pumped from the sea was only 100 litres per second, the lava flow was affected noticeably.
Steam rises where seawater was used to cool lava flows.
The people should not live too close to the volcano since they know that it may erupt. Stronger houses will not collapse easily under the weight of ash. After the eruption is over, locking up buildings will prevent people from entering and suffocating.
Done by Jasmine Lim of 1Faith
References
Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eldfell , extracted 24-02-2010
In 23rd January 1973 there was a volcanic eruption which happened in Heimaey, one of the islands situated in the Western Islands of Iceland. There lies volcano Helgafell, a 200 metre high volcanic cone. When the Helgafell erupted on 23rd January, there was lava fountaining about 50 to 150 metres high. The largest tremor felt before was 2.7 on the Richer scale.
Soon after the eruption, Heimaey was evacuated as the lava was flowing towards the town and there may be a heavy ash fall. Most of the population left by boat, other than patients from the hospital and the elderly who were evacuated by air. The cattle were slaughtered.
The houses were mostly demolished. By February, the falling ash lessened, but lava flows were beginning to cause serious damage. Underwater activity severed an electric power cable and a water pipeline which supplied electrical power and water from the Icelandic mainland. Carbon dioxide and small quantities of poisonous gases became concentrated in buildings partially buried under tephra, suffocating several people when they entered the buildings.
A concrete water tank partially crushed by lava
Spraying lava flows with water in Hawaii proved to have limited success, but it was calculated that spraying the lava flows with more sea water should slow them easily. On 7th February the operation started. Though the amount of water pumped from the sea was only 100 litres per second, the lava flow was affected noticeably.
Steam rises where seawater was used to cool lava flows.
The people should not live too close to the volcano since they know that it may erupt. Stronger houses will not collapse easily under the weight of ash. After the eruption is over, locking up buildings will prevent people from entering and suffocating.
Done by Jasmine Lim of 1Faith
References
Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eldfell , extracted 24-02-2010
