Latest news with #GovernmentofIceland
Gizmodo
16-07-2025
- Gizmodo
A Mile-Long Gateway to Hell Opens Up in Iceland
A volcanic eruption in Southwestern Iceland forced the evacuation of a nearby town and the world-famous Blue Lagoon geothermal spa on Wednesday, July 16. Media images captured huge plumes of smoke and glowing lava flows spewing from an enormous crack in Earth's surface roughly 30 miles (18.6 miles) southwest of Reykjavík. This marks the twelfth eruption since volcanic activity reawakened in this region in 2021. The eruption began on the Reykjanes Peninsula's Sundhnúkur crater row around 4 a.m. local time, according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office. An intense earthquake swarm—a sequence of small earthquakes with no distinct mainshock—preceded the eruption. Just after 5 a.m., lava began flowing southeast from an eruptive fissure that stretched roughly 2,300 to 3,300 feet (700 to 1,000 meters) long. As of 12 p.m., the eruption was no longer contained to a single fissure, the Met Office said. The larger, main fissure at Sundhnúkur crater had grown to a length of 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers), and a smaller, 1,600-foot-long (500-meter-long) fissure had opened up west of the volcano Fagradalsfjall. The Government of Iceland says this eruption is highly localized and poses no threat to infrastructure, tourist attractions, or air traffic, but it does pose certain health hazards. Just before 9 a.m., the Met Office reported 'witch's hair' drifting in the wind. These are fine glass fibers that form when lava droplets rapidly cool and stretch. Because they can cause skin and eye irritation, officials advised locals to take precautions when outdoors near the eruption site. In Reykjanesbær, home to roughly 20,000 residents, officials also detected high levels of volcanic gases. These pollutants can irritate the respiratory system, but levels were decreasing around 9 a.m., according to the Met Office. In an abundance of caution, officials ordered evacuations for the nearby town of Grindavík and the Blue Lagoon. Prior to 2023, Grindavík was home to nearly 4,000 residents, but its population shrunk significantly in recent years due to heightened volcanic activity in its locality. In 2021, powerful earthquakes began rumbling beneath this small town, generated by magma movement within the Fagradalsfjall volcanic system. In March of that year, Fagradalsfjall erupted for the first time in 800 years, putting an end to centuries of volcanic dormancy on Reykjanes Peninsula. Since 2023, Grindavík has faced repeated eruptions from Sundhnúkur, forcing residents to confront the reality of living atop an active volcanic zone. The town has remained mostly deserted since signs of an impending fissure eruption prompted an evacuation order in November 2023. The volcano finally erupted in December, causing structural damage to roads and buildings. Subsequent eruptions in 2024 caused further damage. By now, almost all residents have sold their houses to the state and left town. The desertion has contributed to a 4.4% population decline in Iceland's Suðurnes region, according to Iceland Review. It's unlikely that Grindavík's circumstances will improve anytime soon. Experts have said the eruptions in the area could recur for centuries, Reuters reports. So far, eruptions on the Reykjanes peninsula have not posed a threat to Reykjavik or disrupted air traffic in and out of Iceland. If that changes, these eruptions could have a national impact, taking a toll on Iceland's booming tourism industry.
Zawya
11-03-2025
- General
- Zawya
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and Iceland support expansion of school meals in Malawi
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), in collaboration with the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education and with support from the Government of Iceland, has expanded the Home-Grown School Meals (HGSM) programme to Nkhotakota district, Malawi. The Government of Iceland has recently contributed US$ 1.5 million to facilitate the expansion of the HGSM programme over the next three years, improve food security for learners, create opportunities for farmers, and promote sustainable practices by using locally grown food and clean energy solutions. Under this initiative, 10,000 primary school children will receive nutritious meals to support them stay healthy and focused. The schools will also serve as a ready market for 1,200 smallholder farmers to supply locally produced food, boosting their business and local economy. In addition, farmer groups will receive training in marketing, financial access, and management, building on their capacity to reach larger markets. 'With the effects of El Niño-induced drought still impacting food security in Malawi, this expansion comes at a critical time,' said Simon Denhere, WFP interim Country Director in Malawi. 'Thanks to Iceland's support, we can reach more children with nutritious meals while also creating opportunities for farmers to strengthen their livelihoods by selling their produce to potential consistent and long-term business.' Beyond providing healthy meals for children and creating opportunities for farmers, a pilot project on clean energy will be introduced in selected schools. Biodigesters will turn organic waste into biogas for cooking and biofertilizer for school gardens, reducing the need for firewood, to protect forests and improve farming methods. 'Since 2012, Iceland has supported the school feeding programme in Mangochi, and we are proud to expand to Nkhotakota' said Davið Bjarnason, Head of Mission, Embassy of Iceland in Malawi. 'The intervention improves nutrition and strengthens local economies by sourcing food from small-scale farmers. Expanding to Nkhotakota reinforces our commitment to sustainable school feeding and stronger food systems. Improving the education environment in Nkhotakota is a pillar of our work with the District Council, and the Home-Grown School Meals programme complements these efforts.' Expanding the Home-Grown School Meals Programme aligns with national efforts to enhance school feeding nationwide. The goal of this programme is to address immediate food security challenges while laying a foundation for healthier, more educated future generations. The HGSM programme will also link with the existing Nkhotakota Basic Services Programme (KKBSP), implemented by the district council and funded by the Government of Iceland. The expected outcome of the KKBSP is enhanced provision and use of inclusive and sustainable basic social services in Nkhotakota district, including primary education. 'School meals programmes are a national priority, helping children stay healthy and focused on the classroom,' said Mrs Maureen Maguza-Tembo, Deputy Director for School Health, Nutrition, HIV and AIDS in the Ministry of Education. 'Expanding the Home-Grown School Meals programme to more districts strengthens both education and local food systems, and we appreciate the continued collaboration with WFP and Iceland in making this possible.' WFP currently provides school meals to approximately 800,000 children in Malawi, working in close coordination with the Ministry of Education and partners to promote sustainable, locally driven solutions that improve education, nutrition, and livelihoods. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Food Programme (WFP).
