A volcano erupted Thursday in southwestern Iceland, the sixth eruption since late last year, Icelandic officials said, as a nearby town—which has largely remained largely empty since earlier eruptions—and a world-renowned geothermal spa were evacuated once again.
A world-renowned geothermal spa and tourist destination announced it would temporarily close after ... [+]
The Icelandic Meteorological Office said Friday a fissure nearly 2.5 miles long was spewing lava on the Reykjanes Peninsula near the fishing town of Grindavik, though officials noted lava flow would likely not affect the town.
Lava flow has “decreased somewhat” since peaking on Thursday and seismic activity has “decreased rapidly” since a second fissure opened, according to the agency, adding gas pollution is headed toward the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik.
Iceland’s ministry for foreign affairs said the eruption’s impact is “limited” to an area near the eruption site and “does not present a threat to life” as Grindavik—a town of about 4,000 people—was evacuated, and international and domestic flights will likely not be disrupted.
Vidir Reynisson, Iceland’s director of civil protection, said the volcano does not pose an immediate threat to infrastructure, though officials were still assessing possible damages, according to RUV, Iceland’s public broadcaster.
View of the lava fountains pouring out from the new eruptive fissure.
A volcano in southwestern Iceland.
View of the lava fountains pouring out from the new eruptive fissure.
The sign with the direction to the Blue Lagoon.
A volcano in southwestern Iceland.
Tourists and visitors try to get a view of the eruption.
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The Blue Lagoon, a popular geothermal spa in Grindavik, said Friday it had evacuated and would temporarily close. Several evacuations have been issued for Grindavik since an eruption in December, and between 10 to 30 residents have reportedly remained in the town despite warnings from officials.
The Icelandic Meteorological Office has warned about gas pollution from the country’s volcanic eruptions. Sulfur dioxide, a toxic gas emitted during eruptions, can cause severe irritation to the respiratory system, the eyes and skin, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Icelandic officials said the gas could “be lethal at high enough concentrations for a long time” for those with asthma.
Iceland experiences several volcanic eruptions and earthquakes each year because of its position on a tectonic plate. Thursday’s eruption is the sixth for Iceland since December, after eruptions in February, March and May, the latter of which lasted through late June. In December, a volcano on the Reykjanes Peninsula erupted after weeks of thousands of earthquakes, prompting Iceland to evacuate Grindavik and the Blue Lagoon. Tourism in the country has reportedly decreased since the latest string of eruptions.