Volcano Erupts Near Grindavík in Southwest Iceland

A volcano has erupted near the fishing town of Grindavík in southwest Iceland, spewing fountains of molten rock and prompting evacuations. This marks the fifth eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula since 2021, following increased seismic activity in the region.

The eruption began early on Sunday morning after authorities issued warnings and evacuated Grindavík due to heightened seismic activity. Efforts had been made to construct barriers of earth and rock to prevent lava from reaching the town, but these defenses were breached, and lava is now flowing towards Grindavík. According to the Icelandic Meteorological Office, the lava is currently about 450 meters (1,500 feet) from the northernmost houses in the town.

The Icelandic President, Guðni Jóhannesson, reassured that no lives are in danger, although there may be potential threats to infrastructure. Flights have not been disrupted due to the eruption.

The eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula is centred near Grindavík, a fishing village with a population of about 3,800. It comes less than a month after a previous eruption in the same region, with the town being evacuated as a precautionary measure. More than 100 residents had returned in recent weeks, but they were once again evacuated over the weekend.

The Icelandic Meteorological Office has classified the situation as an “emergency” on its three-point scale, indicating potential harm to people, property, communities, or the environment. The Coast Guard‘s surveillance flight confirmed that cracks have opened on both sides of the defenses built north of Grindavík, allowing lava to flow towards the town.

Iceland, known for its geothermal activity, has experienced several volcanic eruptions in recent history. The most notable eruption in recent times was the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in 2010, which created massive ash clouds, leading to widespread airspace closures over Europe. Unlike Eyjafjallajokull, the Reykjanes volcano systems are not trapped under glaciers, minimizing the risk of similar ash clouds.