Seventh Volcanic Eruption in Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula Causes Fissure, Evacuations
A volcano on the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwestern Iceland erupted for the seventh time since December. The eruption, which began with little warning at 11:14 p.m. on Wednesday, created a fissure approximately 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) long. According to Iceland’s meteorological office, the eruption is considered much smaller than the one in August.
Magnús Tumi Guðmundsson, a geophysics professor who flew over the site with the Civil Protection agency to assess the situation, stated that this eruption is less significant compared to the one in May and the previous August eruption.
Although the eruption doesn't pose a threat to air travel, authorities have raised concerns about gas emissions in certain areas, including the nearby town of Grindavík. In response, around 50 homes were evacuated, along with guests from the popular Blue Lagoon resort.
The repeated eruptions near Grindavík, which lies about 50 kilometers (30 miles) southwest of Reykjavik, have caused damage to infrastructure and properties, leading many residents to evacuate for their safety.
Despite these concerns, Magnús Tumi reassured that Grindavík is not in immediate danger, adding that it is unlikely the fissure will extend further, though he acknowledged that no outcome can be entirely ruled out.
Iceland, sitting above a volcanic hot spot in the North Atlantic, experiences eruptions about once every four to five years. The most notable in recent memory was the 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajökull, which released vast amounts of ash, severely disrupting air travel for months.
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