GRINDAVIK, Iceland (AP) — A volcano on the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwest Iceland has erupted for the seventh time since December. The latest eruption occurred at 11:14 p.m. on Wednesday, resulting in a fissure approximately 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) long.
Magnús Tumi Guðmundsson, a geophysics professor who assessed the situation from the air with the Civil Protection agency, shared with the national RUV broadcaster, “This eruption is relatively smaller compared to the previous eruptions we witnessed in August and May.”
While officials have confirmed that the eruption does not pose a risk to air travel, they have raised concerns about gas emissions affecting areas on the peninsula, notably the nearby town of Grindavík, which has a population of around 3,800 people and is located about 50 kilometers (30 miles) southwest of the capital city, Reykjavik.
As a precaution, around 50 homes were evacuated following an alert from the Civil Protection agency, including guests at the renowned Blue Lagoon resort, as authorities monitored the situation.
Despite these measures, Magnús Tumi reassured, “Grindavík itself is not in immediate danger, and it is unlikely that this fissure will extend further, although we cannot completely rule out any possibilities.” However, ongoing volcanic activity in the region has previously caused damage to infrastructure and property, prompting many residents to temporarily relocate for their safety.
Iceland, positioned above a volcanic hot spot in the North Atlantic, typically experiences an eruption every four to five years. The most significant eruption in recent history was the 2010 explosion of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which released vast ash clouds into the air and disrupted trans-Atlantic flights for several months.
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Keyton reported from Berlin.
