A volcano has erupted once again in southwestern Iceland, marking the second eruption in less than a month. This recent event, occurring just before 8 a.m. on a Sunday, was preceded by a series of earthquakes near the town of Grindavik, as reported by the Icelandic Meteorological Office. In response to the heightened volcanic activity, the community was evacuated overnight, according to Iceland’s RUV television.
Kristín Jónsdóttir from the Icelandic Meteorological Office informed RUV television that the lava flow was situated a few hundred meters north of the town, spanning a distance of 400 to 500 meters. The molten rock is advancing towards Grindavik, posing a potential threat to the settlement.
Residents of Grindavik were previously evacuated from their homes in November and had to stay away from the town for six weeks following a series of earthquakes and an eventual volcanic eruption. They were allowed to return on Dec. 22. A volcano has erupted
Following an earthquake swarm on November 10, the town of Grindavik, with its 3,800 residents and proximity to Iceland’s main airport, underwent evacuation due to emerging cracks and openings in the earth between the town and the nearby Sýlingarfell mountain. Even the renowned Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, a significant tourist attraction in Iceland, temporarily closed in response to the seismic activity.
In the subsequent weeks, defensive walls were erected around the volcano in an attempt to divert the magma away from the community. Despite these efforts, the barriers north of Grindavik have been breached, and lava is now advancing towards the town, as confirmed by the Icelandic Meteorological Office.
Situated above a volcanic hot spot in the North Atlantic, Iceland experiences eruptions approximately every four to five years on average. Notable among recent eruptions was the disruptive 2010 event of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which emitted vast ash clouds into the atmosphere, leading to widespread airspace closures over Europe.