Natural disasters
Another volcanic eruption in Iceland
Glowing lava flows over a road to Grindavík. photo
© Marco Di Marco/AP/dpa
There have been four volcanic eruptions on the Reykjanes Peninsula since mid-December. Residents and tourists had to be evacuated again.
It’s open for the fourth time in four months Iceland a volcano erupted in the same region. The bright red eruption near the coastal town of Grindavík could be seen from the northeastern capital Reykjavik, photos on the website of broadcaster RUV showed.
The Blue Lagoon tourist attraction was immediately evacuated. A few residents who had since returned to Grindavík were also supposed to be taken out of the town again to be on the safe side. There is currently no danger to people, it said.
Scientists tried to get an idea of the situation from a helicopter. The eruption was again announced by strong seismic activity. Experts counted about 80 earthquakes. The length of the crack in the earth was initially not known. Rescue workers complained about tourists who had traveled to the region out of sensationalism.
Grindavík is located on the Reykjanes Peninsula around 55 kilometers southwest of Reykjavik. There have been four volcanic eruptions on the peninsula since mid-December, and in one in January the lava even covered three houses on the northern foothills of the town of 4,000 inhabitants. The future of the community is uncertain. The government has already presented a draft law that would allow residents to sell their residential property to a state-owned company.