A volcano in southwest Iceland erupted early Tuesday, forcing the evacuation of tourists and residents as lava spewed from a massive fissure. The eruption, which began around 9:45 AM local time, created a fiery spectacle of molten rock and thick smoke, threatening the nearby fishing town of Grindavík and the famous Blue Lagoon spa.
The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) reported that the fissure has expanded to approximately 1.2 kilometers (0.75 miles) in length. Throughout the day, multiple earthquakes rocked the volcanic zone, indicating significant underground activity.
Local authorities urged people to evacuate the danger zone. However, a small number of residents in Grindavík refused to leave their homes despite the imminent threat. “Seven or eight houses still have people in them,” Ulfar Ludviksson, the region’s police commissioner, told Iceland’s RUV broadcaster.
Lava flows have reached the protective barriers built around Grindavík, breaching them in some areas. The eruption has also caused infrastructure damage, with a hot water pipe breaking in the northern part of the town due to substantial ground cracking. The IMO confirmed that magma movement has extended further northeast than in previous eruptions, stretching approximately 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) under the crater series.
While roads leading to and from Grindavík remain closed, flights have not yet been affected. However, meteorologists warn that gas pollution from the eruption could travel northeast towards Iceland’s capital, Reykjavík, depending on wind direction.
This latest eruption is part of a series of volcanic activities on the Reykjanes Peninsula, which has seen multiple eruptions since 2021. Prior to this recent period of geological unrest, the last time the peninsula experienced such volcanic activity was over 800 years ago, with eruptions continuing for decades.
Iceland, home to 33 active volcanic systems, sits on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a tectonic boundary where two of the Earth’s largest plates meet. The ongoing eruptions pose challenges for local communities, with most of Grindavík’s 4,000 residents having already evacuated in 2023 due to persistent volcanic threats.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, urging caution as the eruption’s intensity fluctuates. As Iceland grapples with its volatile geological landscape, the resilience of its people remains evident in the face of nature’s raw power.
