Two rapid lava flows: New volcanic eruption in Iceland

Two fast lava flows
New volcanic eruption in Iceland

March 16, 2024, 11:55 p.m

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Only five weeks have passed since the last volcanic eruption in Iceland, and now there is another eruption. Two lava flows pour out of a fissure about 3.5 kilometers long. Several hundred people were evacuated.

For the fourth time in four months, a volcano has erupted in the same region of Iceland. The bright red eruption near the southeastern coastal town of Grindavík could be seen from the capital Reykjavik, about 50 kilometers away, according to photos on the Website of the broadcaster RUV show. The last volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula was only five weeks ago.

The tourist attraction Blue Lagoon with its thermal baths was immediately evacuated; around 700 people were staying there. 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, reports RUV. According to their observation, the lava traveled about 1200 meters in an hour and a half.

The eruption was again announced by strong seismic activity. Experts counted about 80 earthquakes. According to RUV, the crack in the earth is said to be around 3.5 kilometers long. A very strong lava flow pours out of it quickly to the south and another to the west.

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.