The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) has warned local residents and tourists to temporarily stop visiting the caves in the Eldvorp area on the Reykjanes Peninsula starting Friday, February 21. The reason for this was the detection of high levels of gases that are dangerous to health and life, according to The Watchers.
Self-guided cave exploration and excursions in the Eldworp area should be discontinued until conditions improve. Oxygen and carbon dioxide levels measured in places popular with tourists are considered life-threatening.
Experts from the Icelandic Disaster Monitoring Team said the warning only applies to caves in the area, it is safe to stay in open areas for now.
The warning was announced against the backdrop of continued seismic activity in the vicinity of the town of Grindavik and in the area of the Torbjorn volcano. IMO conducts weekly gas level measurements.
The reason for the dangerous rise in the level of toxic fumes and frequent earthquakes is magmatic intrusion at a depth of 3 to 9 km west of Torbjørn. The fact that gassing increased simultaneously with the swarm of earthquakes has become a cause for concern for seismologists and for more careful monitoring of the entire area.
The volcanic system in the southwestern part of the Reykjanes Peninsula includes many craters and small shield volcanoes.
