A fresh volcanic eruption has rocked the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwest Iceland, sending lava spewing from a growing fissure and forcing evacuations in nearby areas, including the famous Blue Lagoon spa. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation as the region grapples with yet another bout of geological unrest.
Lava Breaks Through Near Grindavík, Expanding Rapidly
The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) reported that the eruption began at 09:45 local time, north of the coastal town of Grindavík. Within an hour, the fissure had already stretched to 700 meters (2,296 feet) and showed no signs of stopping.
Seismic activity foreshadowed the event, with a series of earthquakes shaking the Sundhnúk crater range in the early hours of the morning. Experts believe these tremors signaled magma moving closer to the surface, a common precursor to an eruption.
By 11:20 local time, the initial crack had extended further south, and a new fissure had opened. Officials warned that the eruption could escalate further, posing a threat to areas in its immediate path.
Swift Evacuations and Ongoing Warnings
Evacuation orders were issued before the eruption, with residents and tourists asked to leave Grindavík and the Blue Lagoon. While most complied, some individuals reportedly refused to vacate despite the looming danger.
Local police chief Úlfar Lúðvíksson noted that only about 40 homes in Grindavík were still occupied before the latest eruption. Most of the town’s 4,000 residents had already left months earlier due to repeated volcanic activity since late 2023.
Flights remain unaffected for now, but authorities are monitoring wind conditions closely. Gas pollution is expected to drift northeast toward Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik, raising concerns about air quality in the coming hours.
The Longest Magma Flow Since 2023
The magma intrusion detected on Tuesday is the most extensive recorded since November 2023, stretching approximately 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) underground. This raises questions about the potential for further eruptions along the Reykjanes Peninsula.
Since 2021, the region has experienced multiple eruptions following centuries of dormancy. Prior to that, the last known volcanic cycle on the peninsula occurred around 800 years ago and lasted for decades.
Given Iceland’s location on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the boundary between two massive tectonic plates, experts say such activity is to be expected. However, the increasing frequency of eruptions has heightened concerns about long-term seismic and volcanic patterns in the region.
A Nation Built on Fire and Ice
Iceland sits atop 33 active volcano systems, making it one of the most geologically volatile locations on the planet. The country’s history is deeply intertwined with volcanic activity, with eruptions shaping its landscape and, at times, disrupting everyday life.
While past eruptions have caused travel chaos, such as the infamous 2010 Eyjafjallajökull event that grounded flights across Europe, authorities emphasize that each eruption behaves differently.
For now, scientists and emergency teams remain on high alert, bracing for what the Reykjanes Peninsula might unleash next.
