About 800 Evacuated in Iceland over Volcanic Activity

Icelandic emergency officials evacuated hundreds of people near a restless volcano Wednesday amid strong signs of a second eruption.

Some 800 people near the Eyjafjallajokull (AYA-feeyapla-yurkul) glacier were evacuated after seismic activity suggested a second eruption, said Rognvaldur Olafsson, a chief inspector for the Icelandic Civil Protection Agency. The volcano, 75 miles (120 kilometers) east of Reykjavik, erupted March 20 after almost 200 years of silence, The Associated Press reports.

"We do not know exactly when the eruption started, but most probably around one o'clock this morning," said Magnus Tumi Gudmundsson, a professor of geophysics and civil protection advisor.

"Officials in two aeroplanes have seen smoke. The eruption is rather small at the moment." Prof Gudmundsson said there was an increased water flow coming from the glacier.

Icelandic public broadcaster RUV said on its website the evacuees were being directed to Red Cross mass care centres, NEWS.com.au informs.

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