In the photo at left, Eldfjell towers over the houses of the town of Vestmannaeyjar. Although volcanic ash had covered part of the town by February 17, 1973, most of these impressive dwelling houses are still undamaged.
In the picture below, which was taken of the same houses on March 23, 1973, the edge of the lava field has begun to crush them to ruins. The lava advance first pushed the houses along ahead of it, then broke them up, the heat from the lava sometimes setting them on fire.
– Below: the last houses near Skansinn are disappearing under the lava, which is moving forward pushing the houses along in front of it.
– The picture at right is a view from the town toward Eldfell on January 28, 1973.
