The Icelandic government and Icelandair were concerned about the damage the eruption could do the image and tourism and the inhabitants in Þorvaldseyri were concerned that they would have to leave their home.
Ímyndarskaði og ferðamannaiðnaður var ofarlega á baugi hjá íslenska ríkinu og Icelandair en á Þorvaldseyri vissu íbúar ekki hvort þeir gætu haldið áfram búsetu á svæðinu.