A volcano has erupted on the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwest Iceland, triggering the evacuation of nearby Grindavík and the famed Blue Lagoon spa, a favored destination for travelers.
Eruption details and evacuation measures
The eruption commenced at approximately 09:45 local time (10:45 BST), just north of Grindavík. The fissure that formed in the earth’s crust now spans roughly 1,200 meters (3,937 feet) and continues to spread southward. This event was preceded by a series of earthquakes that struck the Sundhnúk crater range at around 06:30 local time.
Prior to the eruption, authorities had ordered the evacuation of Grindavík and the Blue Lagoon. Roads leading to and from the town remain closed; however, flight operations have not been impacted at this time.
Impact on local residents and infrastructure
The Blue Lagoon has announced it will be closed until at least Tuesday, according to a statement on its website. By 11:20 local time, updates from Iceland’s Meteorological Office (IMO) indicated that the initial fissure had expanded and a new crack had emerged. This development was corroborated by a report of a broken hot water pipeline in northern Grindavík, suggesting significant geological shifts in the area.
Officials have urged any remaining residents in Grindavík to evacuate, as earlier reports indicated that some individuals had declined to leave despite the evacuation order. Úlfar Lúðvíksson, the police chief of the region, noted that only about 40 houses were still occupied, as most of the town’s 4,000 residents had been permanently evacuated starting in November 2023, following earlier eruptions in December and subsequent months.
According to the IMO, the length of the magma formation beneath the crater series has reached approximately 11 kilometers (6.8 miles), marking the longest measurement since November 11, 2023. The magma pathway now extends about 3 kilometers further northeast than previously observed during earlier eruptions.
With the current wind direction, gas emissions from the eruption are expected to drift northeast towards the capital area, as per the IMO’s analysis.
Since 2021, the Reykjanes Peninsula has experienced a series of volcanic eruptions, a stark contrast to the last significant volcanic activity that took place over 800 years ago, which persisted for decades. Iceland, situated atop the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, boasts 33 active volcanic systems, highlighting its unique geological position at the convergence of two of the planet’s largest tectonic plates.