A volcanic fissure opened on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula on Wednesday, forcing the evacuation of residents and tourists, including those at the Blue Lagoon spa. The eruption, the twelfth in the region since 2021, expanded on Thursday, with lava continuing to flow from a 2.4-kilometre-long crack in the earth's surface.
Authorities said the lava now covers approximately 3.2 square kilometres but does not threaten any infrastructure. Iceland's Meteorological Office (IMO) assessed the eruption as relatively small based on GPS measurements and deformation signals, and maintained the volcano alert level at its highest until Friday afternoon.
Police conducted evacuations in Grindavík, the Blue Lagoon, and a nearby hotel, though exact numbers of those affected were not disclosed. Clouds of sulphur dioxide gas were heading towards communities including Vogar, Reykjanesbær, Sandgerði, and Garð, prompting officials to advise residents to close windows and monitor air quality.
Keflavík International Airport, approximately 20 kilometres away, reported no disruption to flights. Grindavík, once home to nearly 4,000 people, has been largely deserted since its evacuation in 2023 due to repeated volcanic activity and earthquake threats.
The eruption is part of a new volcanic cycle on the Reykjanes Peninsula, which reactivated in 2021 after centuries of dormancy. Experts warn the region may face periodic eruptions for decades or even centuries, with lava flows posing risks to infrastructure and communities despite the absence of major ash clouds.
