Volcanic eruption in Iceland - holidaymakers brought to safety

Without much warning, a volcano erupted near Iceland's capital, Reykjavik, Wednesday morning. The earth opened up on the sparsely populated Reykjanes Peninsula southwest of the capital.

Live footage from the radio station RÚV shows glowing red lava bubbling from a long fissure. According to the Meteorological Office, the eruption fissure is approximately 700 to 1,000 meters long.

A busy campsite in the nearby fishing village of Grindavík was evacuated as a precautionary measure. Guests of the popular luxury resort Blue Lagoon at the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa were also asked to leave the area. Residents in the area were also asked to close windows and regularly check the air quality.

Airport operations continue

Experts spoke of a "favorable outbreak site": There is currently no direct threat to the people of Iceland or the infrastructure. International air traffic at nearby Keflavik Airport is also currently operating normally.

Volcanic eruptions are no longer uncommon on the Reykjanes Peninsula. The last eruption occurred there in early April. The current eruption is the twelfth since March 2021. Previously, the inhabitants of this region in southwest Iceland had enjoyed peace for around 800 years.

Grindavík becomes a ghost town

In Grindavík, many of the 4,000 residents left the once vibrant town at the end of 2023 to seek permanent residence. Since then, the state has often bought the land from the local homeowners.

With more than 30 active volcanic systems, Iceland is the largest and most active volcanic region in Europe. The island nation in the North Atlantic lies on the so-called Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which separates the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates.

The effects of the 2010 eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano were particularly severe. The ash cloud paralyzed air traffic across large parts of Europe for a good week.

se/AR (dpa, afp, rtr)