On that first night, all five thousand inhabitants were evacuated and no lives were ever lost. The harbor entrance at Heimaey, once threatened by the advancing blocky lava, now provides even more protection from the Atlantic waves. Beside the harbor entrance at Heimaey, a water tank sits, partly crushed by the weight of blocky lava. The story is a dramatic one and the aftermath is still visible for all to see. You can tour the crater area and feel the burning hot ash lying only centimeters below the surface.
Steam rises from the ground, creating clouds that often obscure the view.
Black basalt ash still lies everywhere. On the edge of the destruction, homes are half buried, straining under the weight of lava and ash. Steam rises from the still-hot ash covering the remaining southern half of new volcano Eldfell, Heimaey. Workmen, with their trucks and equipment, are enveloped by steam as they drill into the hot ash of Eldfell, Heimaey. Exhaust vents from numerous geothermal wells appear in the distance.