A volcano erupted with little discover in southern Iceland on Saturday evening, the newest in a string of eruptions within the space, threatening native infrastructure and main the authorities to declare a state of emergency.
Lava fountains burst out of the bottom, and a virtually two-mile-long fissure opened up on the Reykjanes Peninsula round 8:30 p.m., the Icelandic Meteorological Workplace mentioned. The eruption occurred close to the city of Grindavik, the Svartsengi Energy Plant and the Blue Lagoon, one in every of Iceland’s most well-known vacationer sights.
The meteorological workplace mentioned that it had obtained indications of a doable eruption solely about 40 minutes earlier than it occurred. The workplace despatched out its first warning moments earlier than the eruption started.
The Blue Lagoon and Grindavik have been evacuated shortly after the eruption, in keeping with RUV, the nationwide broadcaster. Grindavik has a inhabitants of about 4,000, however few residents have been within the city on the time. About 700 guests have been staying on the Blue Lagoon.
Native information media reported that lava flowed over the principle highway resulting in Grindavik round 1 a.m. and was heading towards the city and the facility plant. Each have defensive obstacles constructed round them to guard them from lava.
On Sunday morning, Hjordis Gudmundsdottir, a spokeswoman for the Division of Civil Safety and Emergency Administration, informed reporters that the most important danger was to 2 pipes that carried scorching water from the geothermal Svartsengi Energy Plant to houses on the peninsula.
The eruption was probably the most important of the seven which have occurred throughout the Reykjanes Peninsula since 2021, together with 4 since December, the civil safety company mentioned in a assertion. Earlier than that, the peninsula had laid dormant for 800 years.
Meteorologists have expressed issues that if the lava continues on the identical charge, it may circulation into the North Atlantic. Contact between lava and water can create small explosions and harmful gases.
