Brits on well being alert as ‘gasoline cloud inflicting respiratory issues’ may fill skies
Brits have been advised to to stay indoors, as a cloud of toxic gases hovers over Britain.
Weather maps forecasted a massive sulphur dioxide cloud to move across the entire country by 4am.
The cloud was coughed up from recent volcanic activity in Iceland. Corrosive and acidic, it can cause serious health problems.
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Sulphur dioxide, or SO2, is usually produced from coal or crude oil combustion, however volcanoes produce the gas in mega quantities when they erupt.
(Image: Getty Images)
Inhaling the gas can trigger a sore throat, coughing, a running nose, burning eyes, tight lungs and breathing difficulties.
Asthma and chronic bronchitis is associated with exposure to the gas. The elderly and the young are particularly vulnerable to the gas, and have been advised to stay inside to reduce exposure.
A halo of dangerous smog has engulfed Iceland after a volcano on the Reykjanes Peninsula erupted on Thursday.
(Image: Public Defense Department of the)
Icelandic residents were given a rude awakening as the powerful volcanic eruption shook the nation, forcing them to flee their homes.
The volcanic hill at Sundhnukar had been showing signs of seismic activity for days before it finally blew.
In response to the lava flow, which reportedly travelled around 1km in just 10 minutes, police ordered an evacuation of homes in its path.
(Image: Getty Images)
Icelandic police announced in a Facebook post that the eruption started at 9.26pm, adding: “It followed a powerful earthquake that began about an hour earlier. This is the fifth eruption this year, the sixth in these areas and the seventh magma run of this event.”
Iceland had been preparing for the eruption for a few weeks, due to ongoing seismic activity in the area and pressure changes in boreholes.
Thousands of people were evacuated from the nearby town of Grindavik and the Blue Lagoon, while rescue teams were sent to Reykjanes and Ölfus, reports MailOnline.
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