A volcanic eruption has shaken southwest Iceland, with the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) reporting the emergence of a fissure just 900 meters from the town of Grindavík. Lava from the eruption is currently flowing towards the fishing town in the Reykjanes peninsula, prompting the evacuation of its residents.
The recent volcanic activity in the region was preceded by a series of earthquakes, with over 200 quakes recorded by the IMO. The largest of these earthquakes, measuring 3.5 magnitude, struck near Hagafell mountain, triggering the volcanic eruption.
Alarmingly, this is the second volcanic eruption to impact the Reykjanes peninsula in less than a month and the fifth since 2021. The residents of Grindavík find themselves facing another evacuation, having been forced to leave their homes in November due to heightened seismic activity, which ultimately resulted in a volcanic eruption in December.
The frequency of these volcanic events has raised concerns about the safety of the region’s residents. Despite efforts by authorities to build defensive barriers to redirect lava away from residential areas, the current opening in the ground lies south of these barriers, leading to an imminent threat to the town of Grindavík.
In response to the situation, Iceland President Gudni Johannesson has assured the public of their safety, stating that no lives are currently in danger. He confirmed in a statement that the town had been successfully evacuated, with no interruptions to flights reported at present. This stands in stark contrast to the volcanic eruption in 2010, which led to significant disruptions in air travel across Europe due to the release of thick ash clouds.
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