The Blue Lagoon opens tomorrow at noon

The Blue Lagoon will resume operations tomorrow at noon, even though the Chief of Police in Suðurnes has maintained that the current situation could be threatened by lava flow and gas pollution at Svartsengi. This was the conclusion after the meeting between the Blue Lagoon and the police authorities at noon today.

Monitoring possible air pollution

In a notice from the Chief of the Police, it is said that there is a risk that air pollution could pose a health threat in the designated danger area and that there is a risk due to gas pollution.

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Still not clear when the Blue Lagoon will reopen

“Blue Lagoon decides to resume operations after consultation with the Chief of Police in Suðurnes tomorrow, Saturday, at noon. The operations area of Blue Lagoon is now populated with gas meters. In addition, a weather station is located in one of the towns of Blue Lagoon. Monitoring and response to possible gas pollution is now in a completely different way than before in the operations area of Blue Lagoon,” the announcement states.

A security representative on behalf of the Blue Lagoon will attend morning meetings of the Operational Command and the Field Command daily. The police chief of Suðurnes asked the managers of the Blue Lagoon to present countermeasures to the Environment Agency, the Health Supervisory Authority of South Iceland, the Working Supervisory Authority, and the Chief Epidemiologist.

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The Blue Lagoon has been evacuated

It is noted that visitors to the Blue Lagoon, as well as all others excluding rescue personnel, earth scientists, journalists, and those working inside Svartsengi, are not allowed to access the eruption site from the parking lot of the Blue Lagoon or Grindavíkurvegur road.

In-the-area, high levels of SO2 (sulfur dioxide) have been measured, but this pollution is considered very unhealthy and most people are likely to experience symptoms in the respiratory system. The announcement states that it is important to stay indoors in such circumstances, close windows, and turn off ventilation.