A volcano erupted in southwest Iceland on late Monday night, following weeks of intense earthquake activity, posing a threat to a nearby town, as reported by Iceland's Meteorological Office. The fissure in the earth's surface, spanning approximately 3.5 km, expanded rapidly, as noted in a Reuters report.
In anticipation of a substantial eruption in the Reykjanes peninsula, authorities evacuated Grindavik, a fishing town housing nearly 4,000 residents, and shut down the neighboring Blue Lagoon geothermal spa last month.
The Meteorological Office issued a warning, stating, "Eruption has started north of Grindavik by Hagafell," indicating that the eruption commenced a few kilometers from the town. The ground fissures extended towards the village, situated roughly 40 km (25 miles) southwest of Reykjavik, Iceland's capital.
Keflavik International Airport near Reykjavik remained operational, although it experienced numerous delays in both arrivals and departures.
People shared several visuals on X (formerly Twitter) which captured the mesmerizing sight of molten rock gushing from fissures in the ground, its vibrant yellow and orange hues contrasting vividly against the dark night sky.
"The seismic activity, along with GPS measurements, suggests that the magma is shifting southwestward, potentially continuing its path towards Grindavik," stated the Met Office.
According to the Met Office's assessment reported by Reuters, the eruption spewed about 100 to 200 cubic meters (3,530 to 7,060 cubic feet) of lava per second, significantly more than previous eruptions in the area.
Local police raised their alert levels in response to the outbreak, while the country's civil defense cautioned the public against approaching the area until emergency personnel evaluated the situation.
Iceland, situated between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates, among the planet's largest, remains a seismic and volcanic hotspot as the plates opposing move in opposing direction, making eruptions hard to predict. The Reykjanes peninsula has witnessed several eruptions in unpopulated areas in recent years.
Mid-November saw Grindavik residents hastily evacuated amid tremors, cracked roads, and structural damage to buildings. Seismologists initially anticipated an imminent eruption, but geological activity subsequently subsided.
According to the BBC, Iceland's Prime Minister, Katrin Jakobsdottir, mentioned that the recently built defences would yield a positive impact, expressing her concern for the local community and maintaining hope despite the "significant event."
President Gudni Johannesson echoed the priority of safeguarding lives, emphasizing efforts to protect structures as well.