Icelandic volcano's lava approaches Grindavik in new eruption

A state of emergency has been declared in southern Iceland after another volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula. This is the fourth time since December.

This is believed to be the most powerful explosion ever. According to local media, the lava reached defensive positions in the east around the evacuated town of Grindavik.

People are also moving in from the nearby Blue Lagoon, one of Iceland's most popular tourist attractions.

Iceland's airspace remains open. Huge lava flows out and smoke rises.

According to the country's civil defense agency, the eruption began shortly after 20:00 local time (8:00 pm Japan time) on Saturday between Hagafell and Stra Skogfell, north of Grindavik.

This is the same location as the eruption that started on December 8th.

Footage of the explosion showed clouds of smoke and glowing magma oozing and bubbling out of the Earth's vents.

Keflavik International Airport and other regional airports were not affected by the explosion.

Geophysicist Magnus Tumi Gudmundsson, who flew over the affected area in a helicopter, told local media that Saturday's eruption was the most powerful yet.

Two lava flows are moving west and south. Local media reported that lava from the latter had reached Grindavik's eastern barrier.

Guðmundsson said lava could flow into the ocean, but that might not happen if volcanic activity weakens.

Einar Bessi Göstsson, a natural disaster expert at the Norwegian Meteorological Agency, told Icelandic public broadcaster RUV that dangerous gases and small explosions could occur when the lava comes into contact with seawater.

Meanwhile, lava moving west has reached the Grindavikluveg road leading to Grindavik and is reportedly headed in the direction of the Svartsengi geothermal power plant, which supplies hot water to the Blue Lagoon and much of the Reykjanes Peninsula. There is.

The Icelandic Meteorological Office said the lava layer was “significantly more extensive” than in February, when a previous eruption sent lava flowing in a similar direction.

Rikke Pedersen, director of the Reykjavik-based Nordic Volcanology Center, told Reuters that a number of protective dikes have been built around both.

There are concerns that fiber optic cables on roads could be damaged and disrupt telephone and internet services.

The Blue Lagoon is closed until further notice as a precautionary measure. Pedersen said there were 500 to 600 people in the area when Saturday's eruption occurred.

Between five and ten houses in Grindavik were also demolished.

The town's roughly 4,000 residents were only allowed to return to their homes about a month ago after an eruption in January spread magma across the town and destroyed three homes.

Most of them chose not to return.

Iceland has 33 active volcanic systems and sits atop what is known as the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the boundary between two of the largest tectonic plates on Earth.

The last time there was volcanic activity on the Reykjanes Peninsula was 800 years ago, and eruptions continued for decades.

The eruption was the seventh since 2021, and scientists believe the region is entering a new volcanic era that could last for decades or even centuries.