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| Iceland volcano erupts after Blue Lagoon evacuated | Iceland volcano erupts after Blue Lagoon evacuated |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A volcano has erupted on the Reykjanes Peninsula in south-west Iceland after a nearby town and the Blue Lagoon spa, a popular tourist destination, were evacuated. | A volcano has erupted on the Reykjanes Peninsula in south-west Iceland after a nearby town and the Blue Lagoon spa, a popular tourist destination, were evacuated. |
| Iceland's Meteorological Office said the eruption started around 09.45 local time (10:45 BST) just north of the small town of Grindavík. The crack that opened in the ground now measures about 1,200m (3,937ft) and continues to extend southward. | |
| The eruption occurred after earthquakes hit the area known as the Sundhnúk crater range around 06:30 local time. | |
| Grindavík and the Blue Lagoon had already been ordered to evacuate ahead of the eruption. Roads in and out of the town remain closed, but flights are currently not affected. | Grindavík and the Blue Lagoon had already been ordered to evacuate ahead of the eruption. Roads in and out of the town remain closed, but flights are currently not affected. |
| The Blue Lagoon would be closed through Tuesday, the spa said on its website. | The Blue Lagoon would be closed through Tuesday, the spa said on its website. |
| As of 11:20 local time, Iceland's Meteorological Office (IMO) said the original fissure had extended southward and a new crack had opened. | As of 11:20 local time, Iceland's Meteorological Office (IMO) said the original fissure had extended southward and a new crack had opened. |
| Around an hour later, the IMO then received a report that a hot water pipeline had broken in the northern part of Grindavík, confirming that significant fault movements had occurred within the town. | |
| Officials had urged any people remaining in Grindavík to leave. Earlier on Tuesday, several individuals had refused to follow the evacuation order, Icelandic media reported. | |
| The region's police chief, Úlfar Lúðvíksson, told local media that only around 40 houses had been occupied by residents, following previous volcanic activity. | The region's police chief, Úlfar Lúðvíksson, told local media that only around 40 houses had been occupied by residents, following previous volcanic activity. |
| Most of the 4,000 residents of Grindavík were permanently evacuated in November 2023, prior to eruptions in December 2023 and January, February and March 2024. | Most of the 4,000 residents of Grindavík were permanently evacuated in November 2023, prior to eruptions in December 2023 and January, February and March 2024. |
| The length of the magma that formed on Tuesday under the crater series is about 11 km (6.8 miles) - the longest that has been measured since 11 November 2023, the IMO said - and the magma corridor now extends about 3km further northeast than seen in previous eruptions. | |
| Based on current wind direction, gas pollution from the eruption will travel northeast towards the capital area, the IMO added. | Based on current wind direction, gas pollution from the eruption will travel northeast towards the capital area, the IMO added. |
| Grindavik has been previously evacuated for volcanic activity, including when this photo was taken in November 2023 | Grindavik has been previously evacuated for volcanic activity, including when this photo was taken in November 2023 |
| Multiple eruptions have occurred on the Reykjanes Peninsula since 2021. | Multiple eruptions have occurred on the Reykjanes Peninsula since 2021. |
| The last time the peninsula had a period of volcanic activity was 800 years ago - and the eruptions continued for decades. | The last time the peninsula had a period of volcanic activity was 800 years ago - and the eruptions continued for decades. |
| Iceland has 33 active volcano systems and sits over what is known as the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the boundary between two of the largest tectonic plates on the planet. | Iceland has 33 active volcano systems and sits over what is known as the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the boundary between two of the largest tectonic plates on the planet. |