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Iceland volcano erupts after Blue Lagoon evacuated Iceland volcano: Residents evacuated as lava spews out
(about 3 hours 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. Watch: Iceland volcano spews lava and smoke after erupting
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. Tourists and residents have been evacuated as a volcano erupted in south-west Iceland, threatening a town and popular attraction.
The eruption occurred after earthquakes hit the area known as the Sundhnúk crater range around 06:30 local time. The volcano has been spewing lava and smoke in a fiery display of orange and red since the eruption began in the morning, creating a huge crack in the ground which has grown to 1.2km (0.75 miles) long.
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. Multiple earthquakes have occurred in the volcanic area throughout the day.
The Blue Lagoon would be closed through Tuesday, the spa said on its website. The volcano is close to the fishing town of Grindavik and the famous Blue Lagoon spa. A small number of people refused to evacuate the town, local media reported.
As of 11:20 local time, Iceland's Meteorological Office (IMO) said the original fissure had extended southward and a new crack had opened. People were asked to "leave the danger zone," the region's police commissioner, Ulfar Ludviksson, told Iceland's RUV broadcaster. But he said individuals staying in "seven or eight houses there... have decided to remain in the town".
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. There were fears that the town was "in danger of having lava flows entering the inhabited area", said Rikke Pedersen from the Nordic Volcanological Centre.
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. A hot water pipe has broken in the northern part of Grindavík, which confirms that considerable cracking has occurred within the town, the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) said.
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 protective barriers around Grindavik have also been breached, as new eruptive fissure opened a few hundred meters inside, the IMO reported. But volcanic activity eased off in the early afternoon on Tuesday.
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. Roads in and out of the town remain closed, but flights are currently not affected.
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. Most of the 4,000 residents of Grindavík left in a mass evacuation in 2023 because of the dangers of the volcanic activity. The volcano has erupted several times since.
The length of the magma that formed on Tuesday under the crater series stretched to about 11 km (6.8 miles) - the longest that has been measured since 11 November 2023, meteorologists said. The magma corridor 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 The eruption, which began around 09.45 local time (10:45 BST), occurred after several earthquakes hit the area known as the Sundhnúk crater range.
Residents living near the volcano in the town of Grindavik were ordered to evacuate for their safety
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.
Flames and molten lava can be seen from a greenhouse on the outskirts of the nearby fishing town