A volcano erupted near the fishing town of Grindavík in southwest Iceland, unleashing fountains of molten rock, less than a month after a previous eruption in the same area. The recent eruption commenced early on Sunday, following warnings and evacuations due to seismic activity on the previous day.
Efforts were made to construct barriers using earth and rock to prevent the lava from reaching Grindavík, but initial observations suggest these measures may not have been successful. The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) reported that a crack had formed on both sides of the defenses, and lava was flowing towards Grindavík. The perimeter, based on Coast Guard measurements, is approximately 450 meters (1,500 feet) from the northernmost houses in the town.
President Guðni Jóhannesson assured that no lives were in immediate danger, although there could be potential threats to infrastructure. The civil protection agency elevated the alert level to "emergency," the highest on its scale, indicating an event that could cause harm to people, property, communities, or the environment.
This marks the fifth eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula since 2021. The recent evacuation follows a powerful eruption near Grindavík on December 18, where residents had been evacuated as a precaution. Over 100 residents had returned in recent weeks but were evacuated again on Saturday.
Iceland's geographical location between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates, moving in opposite directions, makes it prone to seismic and volcanic activities.