Volcano near Reykjavik spews lava, hundreds of small earthquakes hit the area

Reykjavik, April 1 - A volcanic fissure has opened near the Icelandic town of Grindavík and lava has begun to flow out. Authorities had previously recorded hundreds of small earthquakes on the Reykjanes peninsula, where Grindavík is located, and evacuated 40 homes in Grindavík and the nearby Blue Lagoon geothermal spa in advance, agencies reported.

Webcam footage shows lava flowing towards the town.

"The fissure is now about 500 meters long and has reached a protective barrier north of Grindavík," the Icelandic Meteorological Office said in a statement. "The fissure is still growing and it cannot be ruled out that it will open further south," the office added.

The magma movement began at around 6:30 a.m. local time (8:30 a.m. CEST) this morning and was accompanied by intense small earthquakes on the Reykjanes peninsula, similar to previous eruptions, the meteorological office said.

Grindavík was largely evacuated a year ago when the volcano woke up to life after 800 years of dormancy.

The North Atlantic island nation, known as the land of ice and fire for its numerous glaciers and volcanoes, has experienced ten eruptions south of Reykjavík since 2021, and today's magma explosion is the 11th eruption in the area.

Previous eruptions on the Reykjanes peninsula have not directly hit the capital or caused significant ash to be spewed into the stratosphere, so air traffic has not been disrupted.

WT.24