HELSINKI, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Volcanic activity in the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwest Iceland has declined following eruptions that occurred on Wednesday, local authorities confirmed on Thursday.
The Icelandic Meteorological Office assessed on Thursday that three-fourths of the magma that had accumulated underground in the area had erupted, national radio RUV reported. The total amount had been estimated at 20 million cubic meters of magma, with 15 million having erupted.
Fannar Jonasson, mayor of Grindavik, a town near the eruption site, told RUV that the defensive walls around the town have withstood the magma flows. While the town remained without electricity, the water piping system was undamaged. Representatives of businesses were permitted to return to the evacuated town to collect essential materials, such as fish products.
The Icelandic Environment Agency reported that some volcanic gas reached the capital Reykjavik on Wednesday night, but did not affect air quality. ■
