Residents fear for their homes after a volcanic eruption in Iceland

The residents of the Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland have experienced frequent eruptions. But the current volcanic eruption has a different quality: the lava flows could destroy the fishing village of Grindavik.

It is a spectacular natural spectacle that Iceland is currently experiencing: glowing orange-red lava fountains shoot several kilometers high into the sky, dense clouds of smoke rise, everything is bubbling and hissing everywhere. The Icelanders had been waiting for weeks for the volcano to erupt on the Reykjanes peninsula, and then it somehow came as a surprise.

Lava is now flowing and spraying from a crack in the earth for four kilometers. Iceland is used to volcanic eruptions, but this one is larger than those in previous years. What is also different this time: The volcano erupted near a fishing village.

Earthquakes damaged many houses

“The eruption is near Grindavik. We have evacuated the town and secured the area. All roads in this area are being closed. We are doing everything we can to keep the situation under control,” said police officer Thorir Thorsteinsson.

For many locals, the volcanic eruption is a catastrophe. The residents of the fishing town of Grindavik had been brought to safety weeks ago. They were finally allowed to enter their houses again, but much of it had already been destroyed by the violent earthquakes. Some homes are already uninhabitable. Now they fear that the whole place could be buried under the lava.

Mayor: It doesn’t look good

Mayor Fannar Jónasson also expressed concern: “This is the fourth volcanic eruption for us in the last three to four years. There were many swarms of earthquakes.” So the place knows that. But the current eruption is of course much closer than the other three volcanic eruptions were. “So now we can only hope for the best. But of course that doesn’t look good.”

The volcanic eruption, on the other hand, magically attracts holidaymakers – despite urgent warnings from the authorities not to approach the site of the eruption. The American Robert Donald Forrester can hardly believe his luck today: “I find it very exciting to be in the right place at the right time and to be able to experience this natural phenomenon,” he said. “Seeing nature in action, how the lava rises from the ground, it’s really fascinating. It’s like in the movies!”

Duration of the outbreak is uncertain

Now it’s time for the Icelanders on the Reykjanes Peninsula to wait and see. Because it is not yet certain how long the volcano will spew lava. Experts assume that it could last up to ten days. “Several hundred cubic meters of lava are coming out per second. That’s quite a bit more than the eruptions the peninsula has seen so far,” said Magnus Tumi Gudmundsson, who is a geology professor at the University of Iceland.

How long the outbreak will last remains to be seen. “There are no major lava fields beneath the peninsula, which could indicate a shorter eruption. If you consider the alternatives, the location for the eruption is ideal. The danger to Grindavik has not yet been averted, but things are looking good at the moment, experts say on Icelandic television.

The international airport in Keflavik is still open. In the morning the planes took off as planned. The winds are currently favorable, a meteorologist told the television station RUV. But that can change at any time.