Volcanic Eruption on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula

A volcanic eruption commenced on Monday night on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula, causing the sky to turn a fiery orange and putting the country's civil defense on high alert.

Eruption Details

According to the Icelandic Meteorological Office, the eruption occurred approximately 2.4 miles away from the town of Grindavik. Webcam footage captured the moment of eruption, revealing a brilliant flash of light illuminating the sky at 10:17 p.m. local time. As the eruption progressed, magma, in its semi-molten form, could be observed spewing along the ridge of a hill.

Vidir Reynisson, the head of Iceland's Civil Protection and Emergency Management, described the magma flow as substantial, estimating it to be at least a hundred cubic meters per second or potentially more. This magnitude classifies the eruption as significant for this particular area, according to Reynisson's remarks to RUV, the Icelandic public broadcaster.

Previous Activity

Back in November, police evacuated the town of Grindavik due to intense seismic activity that caused damage to homes and raised concerns regarding an imminent eruption.

Iceland's Volcanic Activity

However, experts indicate that this new eruption is expected to primarily produce lava without generating an ash cloud.

Flight Operations

Addressing concerns about flight disruptions, Iceland's foreign minister, Bjarne Benediktsson, assured the public via X (formerly known as Twitter) that flights to and from Iceland remain unaffected, with international flight corridors remaining open.

Ongoing Assessment

A coast guard helicopter is scheduled to conduct an aerial assessment to ascertain the precise location and scale of the eruption. Additionally, gas emissions will be measured as part of the assessment process.

Location and Impact

The town of Grindavik, home to around 3,400 residents, is situated on the Reykjanes Peninsula, roughly 31 miles southwest of the capital city, Reykjavik, and in proximity to Keflavik Airport, Iceland's primary international flight hub.