Another spectacular volcanic eruption in Iceland
A volcanic eruption, the fourth in two years, began on Monday evening in Iceland, in an area south of the capital Reykjavik, where seismic activity had been very intense since early November, the Icelandic Meteorological Institute (IMO) said.
A volcano spews lava and smoke during an eruption in Grindavik, Iceland, Dec. 18, 2023. © REUTERS/Iceland's Civil Protection
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A volcanic eruption, the fourth in three years, began Monday night in Iceland, in an area where seismic activity had been very intense since early November, the Icelandic Meteorological Institute (IMO) said. "An effusive eruption began a few kilometers northeast of Grindavík," shortly after 22:30 p.m. UT, the IMO said in a statement, adding that the aviation color code had been changed to red. However, "at the moment, there are no disruptions to arrivals or departures at Keflavik Airport," Icelandic airport operator ISAVIA said on its website.
On 11 November, residents of Grindavik, a picturesque village of 4,000 people, were evacuated as a precaution after hundreds of earthquakes caused by magma moving beneath the earth's crust, a precursor to a volcanic eruption. Since then, they have only been allowed to go home during certain daytime slots.
«
An eruption began near the evacuated town of Grindavík. Our priorities remain the protection of lives and infrastructure. The Civil Protection has closed the affected area. We are now waiting to see what the forces of nature have in store for us. We are ready and remain vigilant," Icelandic President Guoni Jóhannesson told X.
An eruption has begun near the evacuated town of Grindavík. Our priorities remain to protect lives and infrastructure. Civil Defence has closed off the affected area. We now wait to see what the forces of nature have in store. We are prepared and remain vigilant.
📷 @Vedurstofan pic.twitter.com/yKx4WKU61c
— President of Iceland (@PresidentISL) December 19, 2023
Incandescent Orange Lava
According to images from local media, whose cameras have been installed near the volcano for weeks, the incandescent orange lava is gushing vigorously from a fissure that indeed appears to be quite long. "It's not a tourist eruption and you have to watch it from a distance," Vídir Reynisson, Iceland's head of civil protection and emergency management, told local state television RUV.
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Our thoughts are with the local people [of Grindavík], we hope for the best, but it is clear that this is a considerable eruption Icelandic Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir wrote on Facebook.
Just look at this!
Reykjanesbraut has been closed and people are asked to evacuate it.
pic.twitter.com/eww1POXU1Q
— Grindavik Volcano (@grindaviknews) December 19, 2023
The Reykjanes Peninsula, south of the capital Reykjavik, had been spared eruptions for eight centuries, until March 2021. Since then, there have been two more, in August 2022 and July 2023, signing, for volcanologists, a resumption of volcanic activity in the region.
Thirty-two volcanic systems are considered active in this land of fire and ice, the most volcanic region in Europe.
(
With AFP)
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