Iceland’s Hekla Volcano Could Erupt at Any Minute, Warns Expert from the University of Iceland

Pressure readings within Iceland’s Hekla volcano are alarming and suggest that this volcano – dubbed ‘Gateway to hell’ – could blow in any minute, an expert from the University of Iceland has warned.

Hekla volcano is located in South Iceland and is believed to have erupted about 20 times since 870 AD. The volcano erupted approximately once every 10 years between 1970 and 2000. However, the volcano has been quiet for the past 16 years. The experts are now warning that people should refrain themselves from visiting this crater, which is also a famous tourist destination in Iceland.

“Hekla is ready at any moment,” University of Iceland Geophysics Professor Páll Einarsson told news agency Visir.

“Hekla is a dangerous volcano,” and “we could be looking at a major disaster when the next eruption begins if we are not careful.”

According to Einarsson, pressure is continuously building up within the volcano, and Hekla could blow without warning. The pressure readings are already higher than they were in 1991 and 2000, when the volcano erupted. A powerful eruption in this volcano would put many lives at risk, and would also disrupt air travel in Europe as several planes fly directly over Hekla daily. A powerful eruption would also affect UK air traffic.

“There are also 20-30 planes full of passengers flying right over the top of Hekla every day.” Professor Einarsson said.

According to scientists, Iceland lies on a divergent tectonic plate boundary on the mid-Atlantic Ridge. The country has no less than 30 active volcanic systems out of total 130 volcanoes.

“This is a risky moment which we need to take seriously. Hekla is ready at any moment.”

“We could be looking at a major disaster when the next eruption begins if we are not careful.”

“Hekla has become a very popular tourist destination. Nowadays, there are tourist groups on Hekla most of the summer.”

Located 26 miles south of Hekla is another volcano – Eyjafjallajökull – which erupted in 2010, sending monster gas clouds in the atmosphere. Thousands of flights were cancelled from April 14 to 25 in 2010 due to presence of ash cloud in the sky, leaving millions of people stranded around the world.