Dramatic moment The Icelandic volcano erupts AGAIN ‘without warning’ as lava spews hundreds of meters into the air
ANOTHER volcanic eruption has shocked Iceland, with the latest fissure sending fountains of bright orange lava into the night sky without warning.
A state of emergency has been declared on the Reykjanes Peninsula, just south of there Iceland‘s capital Reykjavik.
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It is the fourth ‘alarming’ volcanic eruption in three months.
The Icelander With office warned of an increasing number earthquakes in the area, near the abandoned town of Grindavik, just five minutes before the eruption occurred around 8:20 p.m.
Video footage from the area showed fountains of molten rock bursting from cracks in the ground.
“Warning: an eruption has started in Reykjanes,” the Icelandic Meteorological Office said on its website.
More about volcanic eruptions
A helicopter was sent by the Civil Protection Authority to investigate the extent of the eruption as Icelandic Police declared a state of emergency.
The Icelandic Met Office reported that the eruption was moving in a northwesterly direction.
The website of Keflavik Airport in Reykjavik states that it remains open for both departures and arrivals.
But the nearby Blue Lagoon luxury geothermal spa immediately closed its doors, as with previous eruptions.
The operator stated on its website: “We have evacuated and temporarily closed all our operating units.
“We will remain closed until Sunday March 17.
“Further updates and information will be provided here as they become available.”
There are more than 30 active volcanoes on the Northern European island.
In 2010, the Eyafjallajokull volcano erupted in southern Iceland, spreading ash clouds across parts of Europe, grounding around 100,000 flights and forcing hundreds of Icelanders to evacuate their homes. houses.
Volcanic outbreaks – or fissure eruptions – on the Reykjanes Peninsula do not usually cause large explosions or significant dispersion of ash into the stratosphere.
But scientists fear this could continue for decades, and Icelandic authorities have started building dikes to divert flowing lava away from homes and critical infrastructure.
The Icelandic Civil Protection Agency said ahead of the explosion: “Since October 24, scientists from the Icelandic Met Office have been monitoring an increase in seismic activity on the Reykjanes Peninsula, which could be a signal of an impending volcanic eruption.
“The increased intensity of these seismic events, especially near the town of Grindavík, indicates the potential for volcanic activity in the area.
“As a precaution, the city was evacuated on November 10 to prioritize the safety of its residents. Evacuations will remain in effect until seismic activity subsides.”
The last eruption in early February saw blistering lava spewing 80 meters into the air along a new 3.0 kilometer long crack in the Soil.
More than 20,000 people were cut off from district heating as burning lava destroyed roads and hot water pipes.
An eruption in January burned several houses in a fishing village to the ground.
Recent eruptions on the Reykjanes Peninsula
TODAY’s eruption is the fourth since December on Iceland’s volcano-hit Reykjanes Peninsula.
Here’s a brief timeline of events:
November 2023 – The population of Grindavik is evacuated due to rumblings, new fissures and earthquake eruptions putting the area on ‘high alert’
December 18 – Grindavik volcano finally broke out and a state of emergency was declared in Iceland
January 14 – A second eruption took place and sent lava flows straight into Grindavik, breaking through new defenses and melted houses in the evacuated city
February 8th – A third eruption rocks the peninsula again as the Sylingarfell volcano erupts, sending lava fountains up to 80 meters into the air
March 16 – The fourth eruption in three months occurs without warning. A state of emergency is declared again.
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