A tale of two cities: responses to the Eyjafjallajökull eruption and lessons for health disaster management

Abstract

[Extract] The Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull erupted on 20 March 2010, entering a new phase (new craters opening) on 14 April 2010. The resulting ash plume caused the progressive closure of European air space from 15 April. Following a period of initial uncertainty, air space remained closed for six days causing the cancellation of several thousand flights, leaving travellers stranded both in Europe and in transit hubs around the world.

We describe the experience of two travellers who were en route to the BMJ International Forum on Quality and Safety in Health Care ('International Forum') during the unfolding of the disaster. Their contrasting experiences of airline responses to the crisis and the capacity of hub cities to cope with an unexpected influx of travellers unable to continue their journeys have important lessons for health disaster managers.