GRINDAVIK, Iceland – A volcano on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula erupted for the seventh time since December, releasing lava from a fissure that stretched about 3 kilometers (1.8 miles). This latest eruption began late Wednesday evening at 11:14 p.m., with experts noting that it was smaller than the major eruptions of August and May.
"In the big picture, this eruption is smaller compared to the one in August and the one in May," said Magnús Tumi Guðmundsson, a geophysics professor who flew over the site with the Civil Protection agency to assess the situation. He spoke with the national broadcaster, RUV, confirming that the eruption did not present a significant danger to air travel.
However, officials warned of gas emissions that could affect parts of the Reykjanes Peninsula, including the nearby town of Grindavík. The town, with a population of 3,800 people, is located about 50 kilometers (30 miles) from Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik. The repeated eruptions have already caused infrastructure damage, and many residents have had to move to safer areas.
"Grindavík is not in danger as it looks, and it is unlikely that the fissure will extend further, although we can’t rule anything out," said Guðmundsson. Following the eruption, around 50 homes were evacuated, and guests at the nearby Blue Lagoon resort were also relocated.
Iceland, sitting atop a volcanic hotspot in the North Atlantic, typically experiences eruptions every four to five years. The most disruptive eruption in recent memory was in 2010 when the Eyjafjallajokull volcano erupted, sending ash clouds into the atmosphere and causing widespread disruptions to air travel.
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