Residents have been warned to stay indoors after a cloud of corrosive gases and acid, which can cause serious health problems, hit the UK in the early hours of this morning.
Weather maps show a huge cloud of sulfur dioxide (SO2), caused by recent volcanic eruptions in Iceland, moving and covering the entire country at 4am.
Sulfur dioxide is mostly produced by the burning of coal or crude oil, but volcanoes also produce large amounts of it when they erupt.
The gas can be identified by its pungent and unpleasant odor, which resembles the smell of rotten eggs.
Inhaling the gas can cause symptoms such as sore throat, cough, runny nose, burning eyes, tightness in the lungs, and difficulty breathing.
Weather maps show a huge cloud of sulfur dioxide (SO2), caused by recent volcanic eruptions in Iceland, moving to cover the entire country at 4am.
An aerial view of lava flows from a volcano eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula near Grindavik on Thursday.
Direct exposure to sulfur dioxide has been linked to asthma and chronic bronchitis, with sulfur dioxide emitted from coal burning during the London smog of 1952 playing a major role in thousands of respiratory-related deaths at the time.
Sulfur dioxide can also combine with water vapor in Earth's atmosphere to form acid rain, which can travel great distances.
The elderly and young children are particularly vulnerable to inhaling sulfur dioxide, and have been advised to reduce exposure by staying indoors if possible.
Dangerous clouds of air pollution have poured from Iceland after a volcano erupted on the Reykjanes Peninsula, near Grindavik, on Thursday.
The eruption had been expected for a few weeks due to ongoing seismic activity in the area and pressure changes in wells.
Rescue teams were reportedly called in to Reykjanes and Úlfos, while thousands of people were evacuated in Grindavik and the Blue Lagoon.
Lava spews from a new fissure on the Reykjanes Peninsula, near the city of Grindavik.
Lava flows and streams after a volcano eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula, near Grindavik
Local authorities have asked residents to stay away from the area for their own safety and the safety of emergency services.
MailOnline previously reported that Iceland has experienced eight volcanic eruptions since 2021, sending residents fleeing their homes.
An international team of scientists studied lava samples and seismic data from the last three years of eruptions.
They found that the peninsula sits above an interconnected magma plumbing system that can keep volcanoes fed with molten rock for decades.
“Comparing these eruptions with historical events provides strong evidence that Iceland will have to prepare and prepare for this volcanic episode to continue for some time, perhaps even years or decades,” says lead author Valentin Trolle, professor of petrology at Uppsala University.
At various points over the past six months, thousands of Icelanders have been evacuated from their homes in the town of Grindavik and surrounding areas due to the proximity of the volcano on the Reykjanes Peninsula.
Lava fountains are seen erupting from a newly opened volcanic fissure in the Svartsengi volcanic system at night.
Iceland lies directly above the so-called Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the boundary between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates.
As these plates move away from each other, hot rock from the Earth's mantle, the planet's largest layer, can rise to the surface.
This makes volcanic eruptions a fairly common part of life, occurring once every three to five years.
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Charlotte Whitmore is a contributor at Mediarunsearch.co.uk, covering a broad range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment, and lifestyle. She focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting and practical information that helps readers stay informed about current events and emerging developments. Her work highlights stories that matter to everyday audiences, with an emphasis on accuracy, relevance, and accessible journalism that keeps readers connected to the issues shaping the UK and beyond.