Iceland volcano warning level raised to maximum after latest eruption

A third small eruption near the Bardarbunga volcano has led to red alert

The Bardarbunga volcano in Iceland (Reuters)

Iceland’s government has raised the aviation warning code again for a region close to the subglacial Bardarbunga volcano after a small fissure eruption occurred in the area.

The eruption, which took place on Sunday morning, was described by the country’s meteorological agency as a “very calm lava eruption and can hardly be seen on seismometers.”

It is the third eruption to take place in the area near the Dyngjujoekull glacier since 23 August. On Friday the authorities briefly raised the alert to red, restricting flights around the site, the alert was lowered to orange afterwards.

The warning from Eurocontrol in Brussels on Friday said: “A danger area, within which no flights are permitted, has been established around the volcano.”

The authorities have now raised the alert back to red again; the Civil Protection Department has said all airports remained open.

In 2010, Iceland's Eyjafjallajokul volcano erupted which prompted a week of international aviation chaos and caused thousands of flights to be cancelled. Officials closed Europe’s air space for five days over concern that volcanic ash could harm jet engines.

Additional reporting by the Associated Press.