Dark, menacing and showing no signs of abating, this is the apocalyptic-style scene that has simultaneously captivated and terrified locals at the heart of Iceland’s volcanic eruption. As people in Britain and the rest of Europe are caught up with the unprecedented travel chaos caused by the eruption, those in Iceland are living with blankets of ash falling from the sky and fears of volcanic floods. This stunning series of images shows how the black volcanic fog that has wreaked havoc across Europe has created an eerie spectacle.
Almost completely blocking out an otherwise blue sky, the cloud resembled a tornado as it swept across the landscape. On remote farms, animals, houses and nearby mountain ranges were coated in grey as the wall of fog moved across the sky, creating the impression it was the middle of the night. As the fog moved in, farmers lured their animals to safety amid fears they would be poisoned by eating or drinking volcanic ash.
Since Eyjafjallajokill erupted hundreds of farmers were evacuated but many have returned to tend to their animals despite fears of volcanic floods. Dairy farmer Hanna Lara Andrews, whose farm sits below the Eyjafjallajokill glacier, said so far livestock seemed okay. “The biggest problem is that the roads have been destroyed so the milk can’t be collected. We can only stock a certain amount on the farm; if the roads aren’t repaired soon, we will have to throw it away. The ash is still falling thickly; it’s difficult to see through it. But it could change direction for the north, which would move it away from the farms. Our biggest fear is the floods. They could come at any moment. Our land hasn’t been damaged yet, but some of our neighbours’ has.”
Daily Mail
Vocabulary
menacing – fenyegető
abating –
eruption – kitörés
to wreak – szabadjára enged, kienged (pl.: haragot)
eerie – titokzatos, baljós
glacier – gleccser
