eruption
Volcanic eruption in Iceland is over again
On Thursday lava flowed across the main road to Grindavik. photo
© Marco Di Marco/AP/dpa
As dramatic as the eruption was, its end was so quick: According to authorities, another eruption in southwest Iceland is already over. You will be dealing with its consequences for days to come.
No eruption activity was observed during a drone flyover on Friday afternoon, and seismometers have not detected any eruptive disturbances since then. However, a risk assessment updated on Friday for the area on the Reykjanes Peninsula southwest of Reykjavik remains valid until Monday afternoon.
The eruption – the third in the volcanic area since mid-December and the sixth since 2021 – began on Thursday morning at 6:02 a.m. (local time). Initially, the lava bubbled out of a crack in the earth that was estimated to be three kilometers long. It later covered several streets and an important hot water pipe, which cut off the supply of hot water to the Sudurnes region. The volcanic activity had already subsided significantly over the course of Thursday.
However, hot water supplies in the region are likely to continue to be affected in the coming days. According to the energy supplier HS Orka, a newly laid bridging pipe broke late on Friday evening in the middle of the lava. Authorities and the utility were working to restore service with new lines. According to HS Orka, this will probably take several more days. Around 600 meters of new pipelines would have to be laid.
Weather authority on Facebook live streams from the HS Orka area