In southwestern Iceland, a volcano has erupted for the sixth time since December, according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office.
The eruption began at 9:26 pm local time (21:26 GMT) on Thursday, with live footage capturing red lava spewing from a new fissure on the Reykjanes Peninsula, the office reported.
The fissure, stretching about 3.9 kilometres (2.4 miles) in total length, extended by 1.5 kilometres (0.93 miles) within roughly 40 minutes, according to a statement from the meteorological office.
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Iceland reassured the public that the eruption does not pose a threat to life, noting that the affected area has been evacuated. “The impact is limited to a localized area near the eruption site,” the ministry shared on the social media platform X.
Regional police chief Ulfar Ludviksson informed local media that the evacuation of the nearby fishing village of Grindavik was proceeding smoothly, with 22 to 23 houses currently occupied.
Most of Grindavik’s 4,000 residents had evacuated in November ahead of a December eruption. While residents have been allowed to return between eruptions, only a few have chosen to stay overnight.
Isavia, Iceland’s national airport and air navigation service provider, confirmed that flights to and from the country are “operating normally despite the ongoing eruption.”
The Blue Lagoon, a luxury geothermal spa and hotel, announced its temporary closure and evacuation of guests.
The meteorological office also reported significant seismic activity at the northern end of the fissure more than an hour after the eruption began, including a magnitude 4.0 earthquake recorded at 10:37 pm (22:37 GMT).
These recurring eruptions underscore the challenges faced by the island nation of nearly 400,000 people, as scientists warn that the Reykjanes Peninsula could experience frequent volcanic activity for decades or even centuries.
Since 2021, the Reykjanes Peninsula has seen nine eruptions, with six occurring since December. These eruptions follow the reactivation of geological systems that had been dormant for 800 years.
In response to the ongoing volcanic activity, authorities have constructed man-made barriers to divert lava flows away from critical infrastructure, including the Svartsengi power plant, the Blue Lagoon outdoor spa, and the town of Grindavik.
The most recent eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula, which is home to approximately 30,000 people or nearly 8 percent of Iceland’s population, ended on June 22 after 24 days of spewing molten rock.
The latest eruption occurred on the Sundhnukar crater row, east of the mountain Sylingafell, partly overlapping with other recent outbreaks on the peninsula.
Unlike traditional volcanic systems, the Reykjanes Peninsula’s volcanic system does not have a central crater but instead erupts by opening large cracks in the ground.
Studies had indicated magma accumulation underground, leading to warnings of new volcanic activity in the area just south of Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik.
With more than 30 active volcanoes, Iceland has become a prime destination for volcano tourism, attracting thrill-seekers from around the world.
