Iceland Town Evacuated: Volcano Warning

In a dramatic turn of events, a volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula in south-west Iceland has forced the evacuation of approximately 4,000 residents from the fishing town of Grindavik. The eruption follows weeks of heightened earthquake activity in the region, compelling authorities to implement precautionary measures.

The Icelandic Met Office reported that the eruption began north of Grindavik at 22:17 local time (23:17 WAT). As a response to the volcanic activity, the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, a popular tourist destination nearby, was closed.

Social media has been flooded with images and videos capturing the intense eruption, with lava spewing from the volcano only an hour after a significant earthquake swarm, indicating increased seismic events. A coastguard helicopter has been dispatched to assess the precise location and scale of the eruption.

The Met Office disclosed that the eruption is situated approximately 4km (2.5 miles) northeast of Grindavik, with seismic activity progressing towards the town. The crack in the volcano spans about 3.5km, and the lava is flowing at a rate of 100 to 200 cubic meters per second, surpassing previous eruptions in the Reykjanes peninsula.

Vidir Reynisson, a senior police officer at the Civil Defence, characterized the eruption as a “quite a large event,” noting that lava is spreading in various directions from a substantial crack in the volcano.

Despite the eruption’s proximity to Reykjavik, the capital city located about 42 km away, there have been no reported disruptions to flights to and from Iceland, as confirmed by Iceland’s Foreign Minister, Bjarni Benediktsson. International flight corridors remain open. The volcanic activity is visible from Reykjavik, where witnesses reported a vivid red illumination of half the sky in the direction of Grindavik.

Eyewitnesses in the city reported billowing smoke, and police issued warnings to the public to avoid the affected area. Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir expressed optimism about the recently constructed defenses, emphasizing the need to prioritize the protection of lives and structures.

President Gudni Johannesson underscored that the primary focus remains on safeguarding lives, with concurrent efforts directed at protecting structures. Memories of the 2010 Eyjafjallajokull volcano eruption, which led to the closure of European airspace, loom large, prompting authorities to take swift action in response to the current significant volcanic event.