Iceland's Reykjanes Volcano Erupts Near Grindavik; Tenth Eruption Since 2021 Prompts Evacuations

Nov 21, 2024, 06:37 AM

A volcano on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula erupted late Wednesday, marking the tenth eruption in the area since 2021 and ending an 800-year dormancy. The eruption began at Sundhnúksgígar crater row at 23:14 on November 20, with lava spewing from a 2.5-kilometer-long fissure whose southern end is at Sýlingarfell, near the town of Grindavik. Authorities have evacuated Grindavik and the nearby Blue Lagoon hotel due to poisonous gas clouds drifting toward populated areas. The Icelandic Meteorological Office reported increased seismic activity earlier in the day, warning of gas hazards and indicating magma flow that suggested an imminent eruption. Keflavík Airport confirmed that flights remain unaffected. Current assessments suggest that this eruption is smaller than previous ones, and infrastructure is not currently in danger.