"Yet another shock that the residents of Grindavík are going through"

Many MPs have spoken about the volcanic eruption that started at Hagafell on the Reykjanes peninsula this morning and they have been sending their warm wishes to Grindavík residents.

Among them is Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir.

“The vigilance of scientists and civil protection workers who decided and followed through with an evacuation in Grindavík last night will not be thanked enough,” Jakobsdóttir writes on Facebook. mbl.is also spoke with her earlier today.

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"Feeling of total helplessness"

“In the last few weeks, the residents of Grindavík have been living in a situation that most of us will not fully understand. Living in constant uncertainty and being able to expect a volcanic eruption in the immediate vicinity at any time is an unimaginable burden. Our collective thoughts are here with the residents of Grindavík,” the Prime Minister added.

Yet another shock

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bjarni Benediktsson, said that news of the eruption came a few minutes after he had boarded a plane, as the minister was on his way to work on behalf of the German-Icelandic Business Council.

“This is yet another shock that the residents of Grindavík are going through, when we let ourselves hope that this would soon com to a stop,” Bjarni writes on Facebook.

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"You look at your house in the background"

“The scenario is moving forward and the images are striking, but we are working on all fronts to assess the situation and the next steps.”

He says that the residents of Grindavík have shown incredible relentlessness and says that the first responders deserve credit.

Challenging to watch

Áslaug Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir, Minister of Universities, Industry and Innovation writes on Facebook: “It’s challenging to watch what is going on in Grindavík. It’s hard to imagine how it must feel for those who now see lava flowing into their homes.”

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Lava has reached the first houses

“We stand by the people of Grindavík”

“The residents of Grindavík have faced immensely difficult challenges in the last weeks and months. Our thoughts are with them,” writes Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarsson, Minister of Climate, Energy and the Environment.

He says that the first responders and the country’s leading scientists who stayed up late last night deserved a big thank you for ensuring that the town could be evacuated in time.”

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New eruption fissure opened up at Grindavík

Lilja Alfredsdóttir, Minister of Culture and Business, also writes on Facebook: “We stand by the people of Grindavík and do what we need to do to take care of them.”

“It is hard to witness this”

Reykjavík mayor Dagur B. Eggertsson says on Facebook that it is “unrealistic” to watch a new fissure open up “in the town of Grindavík”.

“It is hard to witness this. The flags of Grindavík town and Reykjavik city are now flying side by side along the Town hall and Vonarstræti. We will stand together whatever happens. Hopefully, this will go better than it looks right now.”

Fannar Jónasson, mayor of Grindavík, also spoke to mbl.is about the volcanic eruption that began this morning.