A volcano on Iceland’s Reykjanes peninsula erupted on Thursday, marking its sixth eruption since December. The fissure, measuring approximately 3.9 kilometers (2.42 miles) in length, extended by 1.5 kilometers within 40 minutes, according to the Icelandic Met Office.
Livestreams captured glowing lava shooting into the night sky, with bright-yellow and orange lava contrasting against the dark surroundings. Fortunately, the eruption’s impact was localized, and nearby areas were evacuated as a precaution.
The lava flow did not threaten the nearby town of Grindavik, which has been largely evacuated since November. The eruption occurred on the Sundhnukar crater row east of Sylingafell mountain, overlapping previous volcanic activity in the region, which features fissure eruptions rather than central craters.
Recent studies had predicted increased volcanic activity in the area south of Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital. The previous eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula ended on June 22, following 24 days of intense volcanic activity.
With nine eruptions on the peninsula since 2021, Iceland faces ongoing volcanic challenges, prompting authorities to build barriers to protect critical infrastructure. The recent eruption has not affected flights, though the Blue Lagoon spa and hotel have temporarily closed and evacuated guests.
Iceland’s numerous active volcanoes make it a hotspot for volcanic tourism, attracting visitors keen to witness its dramatic geological activity.
