Iceland’s warning system for natural hazards is outdated, according to Víðir Reynisson, a member of Alþingi, Iceland’s parliament. Reynisson has called on authorities to accelerate the adoption of a new system that would send hazard alerts simultaneously to all mobile phones in affected areas. The comments were first reported by Mannlíf and mbl.is.
Reynisson, who represents the Social Democratic Alliance and is a former head of civil protection at the National Commissioner of Police, pointed to delays that occurred during the Holuhraun eruption. He said it took 45 minutes to alert residents in Eyjafjörður about toxic gas pollution when the eruption posed a health risk, stressing that faster and more reliable notification methods are needed.
The current system cannot deliver hazard warnings to everyone at once, which experts say could increase the risk to the public during natural disasters. Reynisson urged decision-makers to move quickly in modernising the process, particularly as Iceland remains vulnerable to volcanic eruptions and other hazards.
Why it matters
The Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management (Almannavarnir) coordinates Iceland’s response to natural hazards. Reliable and fast communication is vital for public safety in emergency situations such as volcanic eruptions, which are a frequent concern in Iceland.
Sources
- Mannlíf (first reported) in Icelandic
- mbl.is in Icelandic
