Matti Kallio, who has lived in Reykjavík, Iceland for twenty years, says the eruption is proof that the country’s nature is unpredictable.
A Finnish musician living in Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland Matt Kallio noticed the online news on Monday evening that the volcanic eruption has started.
He immediately went to his home to see if the eruption could be seen as far as the city. The distance from the eruption site to Reykjavík is several tens of kilometers.
– It was quite a sight when I looked over the roofs: the sky glowed red and an eruption cloud was visible. It was an absolutely startling-looking, startling spectacle of nature, he describes to .
According to Kallio, the volcanic eruption is a big topic of conversation in Iceland now. You can see it on social media and news broadcasts.
Normal life in Reykjavík is not affected by the situation so far.
– Of course, there are scenarios where, depending on the direction of the wind, eruption gases can come in the direction of the city. I myself have experiences of it from past years, how it feels. The throat is dry and the eyes may be irritated.
Kallio praises the Icelandic authorities for their clear communication.
“When living in Iceland, you have to be prepared for everything”
Kallio has lived in Reykjavík for twenty years. He points out that when living in Iceland you have to be prepared for everything.
There has been a lot of seismic activity on the Reykjanes peninsula since the end of October, so a volcanic eruption has been expected.
– The latest information before the day before yesterday was that the activity would calm down. In that sense, however, the eruption came as a bit of a surprise, even though scientists had never ruled out its possibility, says Kallio.
– This is another indication that this country is unpredictable and sometimes the warning time can be as little as an hour.
He follows the next days and weeks with interest.
– I have experienced quite a few eruptions and earthquakes in this country, but still you never get used to it. Now only time will tell how long the eruption will last. Here in Iceland, we live on nature’s terms, live in the moment and monitor the situation – and also not stress too much about the future.
– At the same time, I have to admit that yes, this feels exotic to me.