Another volcanic eruption took place in Iceland on Thursday morning. North of the coastal town of Grindavík, a long fissure opened up in the earth from which glowing red lava bubbled many meters into the air (see video above).
A lava field quickly formed around the crack, as seen in livestreams from Icelandic broadcaster RÚV. The volcanic area on the Reykjanes Peninsula southwest of Reykjavik has seen spectacular fissure eruptions of this type in recent times, most recently in January when lava reached the Grindavík foothills.
Accumulation of millions of cubic meters of magma
The weather authority Vedurstofa had recently recorded a new accumulation of several million cubic meters of magma under the area and therefore warned that the chance of another eruption in the near future had increased.
Earthquake activity heralded the eruption
According to the weather bureau, the eruption started around 6 a.m. Thursday northeast of Mount Sylingarfell, after being announced shortly before by increasing earthquake activity. The crack is about three kilometers long and the lava initially flows mainly to the west, authorities announced this morning.
Lava fountains up to about 80 meters high
“The lava fountains reach a height of about 50 to 80 meters and the smoke plume rises to a height of about three kilometers” above the volcanic fissure, reported Islands Meteorological Institute (IMO). However, the lava flow appears to be “slightly lower” compared to the start of the eruption on December 18, it is said.
According to broadcaster RÚV, there was initially no immediate danger to Grindavík, the nearby Blue Lagoon geothermal pools, which are very popular with tourists, or a power station in the area.
Sixth outbreak in almost three years
It is the sixth volcanic eruption in Iceland in almost three years. The last eruption also occurred near Grindaviks on January 14. The IMO warned on Monday of a new eruption.
Source: Krone
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