“Volcano eruption in Iceland prompts evacuations, no injuries reported yet.”
A volcano erupted on the Reykjanes peninsula in south-west Iceland following a period of heightened earthquake activity. Prior to the eruption, approximately 4,000 individuals were evacuated from the town of Grindavik, and the nearby Blue Lagoon geothermal spa was closed as a safety measure. The Icelandic Met Office confirmed the eruption started at 22:17 local time (22:17 GMT), situated north of Grindavik. The region surrounding the capital city of Reykjavik had been experiencing increased seismic movements since late October.
The eruption, located approximately 4km (2.5 miles) north-east of Grindavik, was accompanied by seismic activity progressing towards the town. Videos and images shared on social media depicted lava spewing from the volcano shortly after a series of seismic events were detected. Visible even from Reykjavik, which is approximately 42km (26 miles) north-east of Grindavik, eyewitnesses described the sky in the direction of the town as being “lit up in red” due to the eruption, with billowing smoke filling the air.
Authorities urged individuals to steer clear of the area for safety reasons, emphasizing the danger posed by the volcanic activity. The volcanic crack spanned about 3.5km, with lava flowing at a rapid rate of 100 to 200 cubic meters per second, significantly surpassing previous eruptions in the Reykjanes peninsula.
A senior police officer from the Civil Defence noted the sudden and substantial nature of the eruption, observing that lava seemed to spread in various directions from a substantial crack in the volcano. Despite the eruption’s intensity, Iceland’s foreign minister assured via social media that flights to and from Iceland were unaffected, with international flight routes remaining open.
The country had been on heightened alert for a possible volcanic eruption for weeks, prompting prior evacuation orders in Grindavík as a precautionary measure. Fortunately, as of 07:00 GMT, there were no reports of injuries resulting from the eruption.
