Volcanic Eruption Strikes Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula

An unexpected volcanic eruption occurred near Iceland‘s capital on Wednesday night, marking the seventh such event in the area since December. The incident took place at a volcano located on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula in the southwest region, according to the Icelandic Met Office.

Reports indicate that the fissure created by the eruption measures approximately 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) in length. «The eruption began shortly after 11 p.m. local time,» stated the Met Office, adding in an update three hours later that the fissure appeared to have ceased its expansion.

Despite the eruption, air traffic to and from Iceland proceeded normally on Thursday. Iceland’s official airport authority confirmed the eruption’s impact was significantly milder compared to a prior incident in August, which saw a 4-kilometer (2.5-mile) fissure opening.

Precautionary measures were undertaken as a geothermal power plant and two hotels located at the famed Blue Lagoon were evacuated. «This has been a recurring issue, as the Lagoon has faced multiple closures over the past year due to volcanic activity,» according to a statement from local authorities.

«The eruption is in the same location as the one in August this year. Thankfully, the town of Grindavík is not at risk from the lava flow,» remarked Snorri Valsson, spokesperson for the Icelandic Tourist Board, during an interview with CNN.

Additional reports from Iceland’s local news outlet, mbl.is, suggested that the lava has approached the parking facilities near the Blue Lagoon and threatened to surpass barrier constructions on the Bláalónsvegur Road. «Heavy machinery was deployed overnight and this morning to fortify the defense walls against the advancing lava,» said Arnar Smári Þorvarðarson, who is overseeing the fortification efforts.

He further assured that the barriers would likely hold before the lava approached any critical infrastructure. «Our experience shows that while steam explosions could happen from the interaction of lava and water, it is more likely that the water will evaporate harmlessly,» Smári Þorvarðarson stated.

Iceland, home to nearly 400,000 residents, is one of the most active volcanic regions globally, residing atop the shifting geologic boundary between the North American and European tectonic plates. In recent history, the peninsula has experienced a surge in seismic activity, including over 1,000 earthquakes recorded within a single day last year.