Authorities near the sight of the erupting volcano in Iceland were forced to disperse hikers after recording high sulphur dioxide levels on Thursday (March 31).

Video filmed by videographer and eruption chaser Marco di Marco shows one search and rescue official named Bardur measuring toxic levels and dispersing hikers who had gathered to see the volcano eruption Geldingadalir, near the capital Reykjavik, on Wednesday.

"We measured sulphur dioxide levels, [which were] somewhat high," he told Newsflare. "It’s very annoying to breath it in if you don’t have a mask. So we ask people to move. It’s not good to stay for a long time in it."

Last month Phys.org reported that according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office, sulphur dioxide levels can at times exceed 9,000 microgrammes per cubic metre at the volcano sight, or 450 times the World Health Organization's recommended 24-hour average exposure limit.

Sulphur dioxide can pose a danger to health and even be fatal.

One female visitor to the volcano named Izzy said: "It’s unpredictable, so I’m always a little bit nervous going [to see the volcano]."

Footage also captured on Wednesday shows horse riders at the scene as well as hundreds of hikers.

Impressive drone footage captured at day and night shows hot lava bubbling, spurting and gushing.

Since Easter week started, Geldingadalir is getting busier day by day. You can see the parking lots completely full. It has been a lot of traffic and people, so the Authorities decided to open the area from 6:00 to 18:00 and evacuate everyone around 22:00 for the entire week.
I got the chance to film a moment when The Search and rescue Team pushed everyone away from the Northern side of the valley, due to gas pollution. I interviewed the person who took care of that. Also, it was really strange to see people getting there with horses.

I interviewed Icelanders visitors: I don’t know the name of the first guy, for some reason he didn’t want to tell me his name, but the couple is named Odinn and Izzy.

Drone footage is also included.