The Civil Protection Department has lifted the danger level on the Mýrdalssandur plains in south Iceland, now only Mýrdalsjökull is off limits. The activity in the glacier, which covers the volcano Katla, has subsided significantly in the past hour.

Screenshot from a RÚV video of the flood that destroyed the bridge across Múlakvísl this morning. Copyright: RÚV.

Around 200 people who were evacuated from Álftaver and Medalland this morning have been allowed to return to the area, mbl.is reports. This was decided at a meeting between earth scientists and the Civil Protection Department at 3 pm.

However, the situation is still considered risky and so the areas around the glacier have been downgraded to the uncertainty level and the Icelandic Meteorological Office will continue to monitor the situation closely, ruv.is reports.

It is still not clear whether this was simply a case of glacial flooding or whether there was in fact a small eruption underneath the glacier. Scientists are preparing to fly across the glacier to learn more about the circumstances.