Bart Rijvers (48) from Eindhoven does not leave the steaming lava flows in Iceland cold. Last Monday, a volcano erupted about thirty kilometers from the capital Reykjavik. Bart immediately bought a plane ticket to the erupting volcano, while the Icelandic government called not to come that way because it would be dangerous. “There’s a nice amount of lava.”
In 2017 he visited Iceland for the first time with his family. Nature in particular made a big impression on Bart. In the meantime, the Eindhoven resident who makes computer programs in his daily life has already been to Iceland five times.
“When the volcano started to rumble, I kept an eye on the news every day. Several earthquakes have also been reported. The volcano really erupted on Monday. I immediately bought tickets,” says Bart.
“Moss fires caused a lot of smoke right over the trail.”
A fantastic natural spectacle, but the Icelandic crisis service mainly alerted people to the danger associated with the eruption of Fagradalsfjall. Toxic gases were released. Curious people were discouraged from coming and people in the area were advised to keep windows and doors closed. The path to the volcano was also temporarily closed.
Bart decided to go despite the advice. When he arrived in Iceland on Wednesday, he rented a camper and went to look a few hundred meters away.
“In the evening it became foggy and that is why the area around the volcano was closed off. It was closed for a few days due to smoldering moss fires that caused a lot of smoke right over the path. Most of them have now been extinguished,” says Bart. The warning has since been withdrawn and the area around the volcano is open again.
“It was safe enough.”
“Safe? It was safe enough”, Bart continues. “There is a nice amount of lava. Not a lot, not a little either.”
Armed with a camera and a drone, he shot images of the volcano. “The drone is a bit scorched, mainly some melted plastic. It’s not just drone flying either. That lava is more than 1000 degrees, you can’t fly above it for too long.”
“I can recommend this as a holiday destination to anyone.”
Bart flew to Iceland before for a volcanic eruption. “This is the second time. When a volcano erupted in 2021, I also went to see it. That was a bit more difficult then due to the corona rules. My wife also had time to get used to the idea that I went there alone,” laughs Bart.
For now he will stay in Iceland until Wednesday, not just to look at the volcano. “I will also visit other areas. The landscape is so unique. You have a lot of space and tranquility here. I can recommend this to everyone as a holiday destination,” he concludes.
View the photos that Bart took at the volcano here:
