A state of emergency has been declared in Iceland after lava from a volcanic eruption damaged key hot water pipes.

Thousands of people in the Reykjanes Peninsula have been urged to limit their hot water and electricity use as the pipes could take days to fix.

There are concerns that other crucial pipelines close to the Svartsengi power station could be affected if the lava flow does not ease soon.

It is the third such eruption on the peninsula since December.

    • Chainweasel@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      47
      ·
      9 months ago

      It’s Iceland in the dead of winter, it’s -11°C and the heat pipes are severed, it’s an actual emergency.

    • Nighed@sffa.community
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      14
      ·
      9 months ago

      A lot of Iceland uses municipal hot water/heating, so this means that they may not be able to heat their houses properly. (although I don’t think its that bad currently)

    • athos77@kbin.social
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      6
      arrow-down
      3
      ·
      9 months ago

      The steam pipes provide electricity and heat. And the high temperature in Iceland today was 22°F, with a nighttime low of 15°F.