Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula Volcano Erupts for Ninth Time Since 2023

A volcano erupted on Wednesday on Iceland’s Reykjanes peninsula in the south-west of the country, the ninth eruption in the region since the end of 2023. The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) said the eruption had begun just before 4am local time (05:00 BST), and live video feeds showed lava spewing from a fissure in the ground. The main fissure was about 1.5 miles (2.4km) long, with a second fissure of about 500 meters opening up nearby. Residents were advised to stay indoors due to high levels of toxic gas in the air.

The broadcaster RUV reported that a nearby fishing village, Grindavík, had been evacuated, along with the Blue Lagoon spa, a famous tourist spot. Police commissioner Margrét Kristín Pálsdóttir mentioned that the evacuation of about 100 people had proceeded smoothly. Police also prevented some tourists from entering the area, understanding the fascination but prioritizing safety.

Benedikt Ófeigsson, a geophysicist with the IMO, noted that the eruption appeared smaller than previous ones and posed no threat to infrastructure. The last eruption in the area was in April, and a risk assessment published on Tuesday did not anticipate another eruption until autumn. The Reykjanes peninsula had not seen volcanic activity for eight centuries until heightened seismic activity began in March 2021.

Volcanologists have observed a new era of activity in the region in recent years. The latest eruption was not expected to disrupt international flights, unlike the 2010 eruption in another part of Iceland that caused global travel disruptions due to an ash cloud. Iceland, with 33 active volcanic systems, holds the most in Europe, situated on the mid-Atlantic ridge between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates.

According to the source: The Guardian.