REYKJAVÍK — A volcano erupted Tuesday morning on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula, prompting evacuations from the nearby town of Grindavík and the Blue Lagoon, a world-famous geothermal spa.
The eruption, which began around 09:45 local time (10:45 BST), was preceded by a series of earthquakes that shook the Sundhnúk crater range hours earlier.
Iceland’s Meteorological Office (IMO) confirmed that the initial fissure now stretches about 1,200 meters (3,937 feet) and continues to expand southward. As of late morning, a second crack had also opened. A hot water pipeline was later reported broken in Grindavík’s northern section, signaling significant fault movement under the town.
Authorities had already ordered evacuations from Grindavík and the Blue Lagoon ahead of the eruption, with police urging any remaining residents to leave immediately.
Local media said some individuals initially refused to comply with the evacuation orders.
The town, which once housed around 4,000 residents, has seen repeated displacements since November 2023 due to ongoing volcanic activity.
The Blue Lagoon announced it would remain closed through Tuesday.
This latest eruption is part of a prolonged volcanic episode on the Reykjanes Peninsula, which reawakened in 2021 after being dormant for 800 years.
Since then, the region has experienced multiple eruptions, including several in the past year alone.
The IMO noted that the current magma corridor stretches roughly 11 kilometers (6.8 miles), the longest recorded since volcanic unrest began on November 11, 2023. The corridor now extends 3 kilometers further northeast than previous events.
While roads to and from Grindavík remain closed, flight operations in Iceland have not yet been affected. However, based on prevailing winds, gas pollution from the eruption is expected to move northeast toward the capital area.
Iceland, situated on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, lies atop a highly active volcanic zone with 33 active systems. The Reykjanes Peninsula remains under close monitoring as experts assess the potential for continued volcanic activity. — Agencies
