Evacuation tips

Thousands of residents have been evacuated from a coastal Icelandic town and a world-famous spa has closed as experts fear a nearby volcano could erupt in a matter of days. Travelers should watch the situation closely, but there’s no need to alter travel plans—yet.

The strong earthquake swarm that started this week near Grindavik on Iceland's Reykjanes peninsula is caused by magma forming a dike - a vertical fissure-shaped intrusion at shallow depth, which allows the magma to rise and get closer to an eruption. This now threatens one of Iceland's most important tourism regions and is home to the iconic Blue Lagoon Resort. Civil Protection just declared a Level Orange emergency, and residents of Grindavík were told to evacuate.

Icelandic authorities declared a state of emergency and evacuated a town of about 4,000 people on Saturday after hundreds of earthquakes were detected overnight, signaling an increased likelihood of a volcano erupting in the country’s southwestern Reykjanes Peninsula.

The Blue Lagoon, one of Iceland's most iconic tourist destinations, is officially closed for the next seven days due to an increase in seismic activity following a series of earthquakes.

The Hamburg Airport in Germany canceled all flights on Saturday night as the authorities responded to a man who is believed to be armed and who drove his vehicle onto the tarmac and parked near a plane.

This series of articles about credit cards, points and miles, and budgeting for travel is brought to you in partnership with The Points Guy.

As the war between Hamas and Israel intensifies in the Middle East, tensions are spilling over into Europe, where demonstrations and terrorist attacks are causing disruptions for locals and visitors alike.

In the immediate aftermath of disaster, authorities and travel operators have to coordinate repatriations, evacuations and displaced communities quickly and safely, while reduced visitor numbers can have a crippling effect on local businesses. For many of these destinations, a reliance on tourism only adds to the complexity of their recovery efforts. But with the right mindset and action, travellers can, in fact, be a part of the solution.

On Saturday, violence erupted across Israel and Gaza in one of the worst conflicts the region has seen in decades, according to The New York Times. After Hamas militants began launching thousands of rockets and infiltrating Israeli towns early Saturday morning, the conflict has continued to escalate, with Israel’s military responding with massive air strikes. The violence has left thousands dead, according to CNN. Thousands more are injured on both sides.

Climate change is warming up the spring, lengthening the summer, and drying out soil and vegetation, leading to more frequent, destructive wildfires. This year alone, wildfires have left at least 98 dead on Maui, forced mass evacuations from several Greek islands, and raged across Canada, forcing an entire city to evacuate and fouling the air across North America. If you’re traveling in this environment — especially if you’re planning a trip to the outdoors — how can you stay safe? Here’s how to prepare yourself, and what to do in case of an emergency.

Tour operators have quickly pulled tours and travelers out of Israel after a surprise attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas was followed by Israel's declaration of war. One operator called it the "9/11 of Israel."

The Israel Ministry of Tourism (IMOT) said it is working with relevant authorities to assist travelers trying to leave Israel as the country's war with Hamas unfolds.

The few inches of personal space taken up by a reclined airplane seat are some of the most valuable territory in the world. Wars have been waged over them. Much effort has been devoted to conflict resolution too (and, in case you’re wondering, there is a less obnoxious way to recline your seat).