Live video images showed glowing lava pouring out of a fissure and illuminating a plume of smoke rising into the sky. The eruption occurred about five kilometers north of the 4,000-resident town of Grindavik, which was evacuated on November 11, a civil defense spokeswoman said.
- From the archive: Another volcanic eruption: “Black day for Iceland”
This is the third volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula since December 18th. In the morning, a small earthquake occurred northeast of Sylingarfell, said Iceland’s Meteorological Institute IMO. Shortly afterwards, an eruption began in the area. According to an initial assessment following a Coast Guard observation flight, the eruption occurred in the same area as the one on December 18, the IMO said. The volcanic fissure is about three kilometers long.
“The lava fountains reach a height of around 50 to 80 meters and the smoke plume rises to a height of around three kilometers” above the volcanic fissure, it said. The lava flow appears to be “slightly lower” compared to the start of the eruption on December 18th. It is the sixth volcanic eruption in Iceland in almost three years. The last eruption also occurred near Grindavik on January 14th. The IMO warned of another eruption on Monday.
Hot water supply cut off
The volcanic eruption cut off the hot water supply in the affected area. The authorities therefore declared a state of emergency for the region on the Reykjanes Peninsula. The hot water pipe was broken, causing a shortage of hot water in the Sudurnes region, the Civil Defense and Police Authority said in the afternoon. She called on residents and businesses on the peninsula to save electricity and water. The nearby Keflavík Airport – Iceland’s international airport – was also without warm water.
The Blue Lagoon hot spring resort, popular with tourists, remained closed on Thursday. The holidaymakers staying at the resort were evacuated, as Ruv reported, citing civil defense. “The situation is under control, there is no danger. The airport is safe. The people are 100 percent safe,” said the civil defense spokeswoman.
With more than 30 active volcanic systems, Iceland is the largest and most active volcanic region in Europe. The island nation in the North Atlantic lies on the so-called Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which separates the Eurasian and North American plates.
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