Reykjavik, Iceland – The picturesque skyline of Reykjavik was transformed into a scene of orange skies as molten lava flowed from a fissure on the Reykjanes Peninsula in western Iceland. Over the weekend, the iconic Blue Lagoon and the nearby town of Grindavik were evacuated following a volcanic eruption, as reported by Iceland’s public broadcaster RÚV.
The lava flow from the eruption was swiftly moving towards the north of Grindavik, reminiscent of a previous eruption on February 8. According to the Icelandic Met Office, the fissure, stretching about three kilometers from Stóra-Skógfell to Hagafell, posed a significant threat to the area.
Despite the eruption, Iceland’s main international airport, Keflavik Airport, and other regional airports remained operational. However, residents near the airport were warned of potential volcanic gas emissions in the vicinity the following day, as reported by RÚV.
Geophysicists monitoring the situation described the current eruption as the most intense in recent seismic activity. Magnús Tumi Guðmundsson, who surveyed the site from a helicopter, noted that the active fissure spanned from Hagafell to Stóra-Skógfell, estimating its width at about 3.5 kilometers.
Páll Einarsson, another geophysicist, highlighted the consistent pattern of earthquakes at Grindavik since October, with periodic magma flows that occasionally breach the surface. Einarsson emphasized the potency of the previous eruptions, which were brief yet powerful during their occurrence.
The Reykjanes Peninsula, where the eruption took place, is renowned for its volcanic activity, characterized by a rift valley featuring lava fields and cones. This geological landscape, combined with Iceland’s status as one of the most active volcanic regions globally, underscores the ongoing natural phenomena shaping the country’s terrain.