Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula Sees Seventh Volcanic Eruption in a Year

GRINDAVIK, Iceland — A volcano on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula erupted again, marking its seventh eruption since December. Lava flowed from a fissure.

The eruption, which began unexpectedly at 11:14 p.m. on Wednesday, created a roughly 3-kilometer-long fissure. However, Iceland’s meteorological office reported it to be significantly smaller than the August eruption.

“In the broader context, this eruption is smaller than the last one and the May eruption,” stated Magnús Tumi Guðmundsson, a geophysics professor who observed the eruption with the Civil Protection agency, speaking to national broadcaster RUV.

While posing no immediate threat to air travel, authorities warned of gas emissions affecting parts of the peninsula, including Grindavík.

The recurring volcanic activity near Grindavík, a town of 3,800 inhabitants located about 50 kilometers southwest of Reykjavík, has caused infrastructure damage, property losses, and prompted many residents to relocate for safety.

“Grindavík is not currently in danger, and this fissure is unlikely to lengthen significantly, though we cannot rule out any possibility,” Magnús Tumi noted.

Following a Civil Protection agency alert, approximately 50 homes were evacuated, along with guests from the renowned Blue Lagoon resort, according to RUV.

Iceland, situated above a volcanic hotspot in the North Atlantic, experiences an average of one eruption every four to five years. The most impactful recent eruption was the 2010 Eyjafjallajokull eruption, which released ash clouds, disrupting transatlantic air travel for months.

—Keyton reported from Berlin.