A volcano erupted in southwestern Iceland on Sunday, posing a right away risk to a close-by fishing city that had been evacuated over fears of an eruption, authorities mentioned.
Morning reside streams from the location confirmed fountains of molten rock spewing from fissures within the floor, the intense orange lava move shining in opposition to the darkish sky.
The eruption started north of the city of Grindavik, which on Saturday was evacuated for a second time over fears an eruption was imminent amid a flurry of seismic exercise, authorities mentioned.
Iceland in latest weeks has sought to construct earth and rock obstacles to forestall lava from reaching Grindavik, however the newest eruption seems to have penetrated the defenses.
“In accordance with the primary photographs from the Coast Guard surveillance flight, a crack has opened on each side of the defenses which have began to be constructed north of Grindavik,” the Icelandic Meteorological Workplace mentioned in a press release.
“The lava is now flowing in direction of Grindavik. Primarily based on the measurements from the Coast Guard helicopter, the perimeter is now about 450 meters from the northernmost homes of the city,” he added.
It was the second volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula in southwest Iceland in lower than a month, and the fifth since 2021.
Final month, an eruption started within the Svartsengi volcanic system on December 18 following the whole evacuation of Grindavik's 4,000 residents and the closure of the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, a preferred vacationer spot.
Greater than 100 Grindavik residents had returned up to now few weeks earlier than Saturday's renewed evacuation order, in response to native authorities.
On Sunday, Iceland's civil safety company mentioned it raised its alert degree to “emergency,” the very best on a three-level scale, signaling that an occasion had begun that would trigger hurt to folks, communities , property or the surroundings.
Positioned between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates, two of the most important on the planet, Iceland is a seismic and volcanic scorching spot as the 2 plates transfer in reverse instructions.
