Thomas Waterproof coat,Katherine Armstrong
One other volcano has erupted in southwest Iceland, forcing the evacuation of the well-known geothermal Blue Lagoon spa and the small fishing city of Grindavik.
A brand new fissure opened close to Sundhanuksgigur on the Reykjavik peninsula, the area’s fifth eruption since December.
Iceland’s Meteorological Workplace (IMO) mentioned the crack was greater than 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) lengthy and rising steadily.
A state of emergency has been declared however air journey from Iceland shouldn’t be anticipated to be affected.
The mayor of Grindavik, Fenner Jonassen, advised state broadcaster RUV that he was involved in regards to the quantity of lava flowing in the direction of the city, which was “a a lot bigger quantity” than seen after the latest eruption.
Power supplier HS Vitur mentioned energy was lower to Grindavik as a precaution.
Based on native media, three individuals refused to depart town.
Authorities later issued an announcement “strongly urging that every one these in or close to Grindavik depart the world and transfer to a protected distance”.
All however one street out and in of the city at the moment are declared inaccessible.
Footage from the explosion web site confirmed a wall of molten rock as much as 50 meters excessive, and big plumes of ash overlaying a lot of the sky.
Pure historical past cinematographer, Benjamin Hardman, has been documenting Iceland’s volcanoes and was near the volcano when it erupted.
“It is fully surreal to be right here at present,” he advised the BBC.
“It is a unusual time on the Reykjanes Peninsula.”
Swartsengi Energy Plant, which offers electrical energy and water to 1000’s of individuals on the peninsula, has additionally been evacuated.
Boundaries have been erected across the facility, in addition to Grindavik and the Blue Lagoon, to attempt to shield them from lava flows from ongoing eruptions.
Keflavik Worldwide Airport mentioned it was working as regular and was not anticipated to be affected.
Authorities reported “intense seismic exercise” earlier than Wednesday’s eruption.
Geophysicist Ari Trusty Gudmundsen mentioned scientists had been anticipating new eruptions for a while.
Earlier than the December eruption in January, most of Grindavík’s 4,000 residents have been completely evacuated in November. February And March.
Lava flowed into its streets During the eruption of JanuaryEnclosing three homes.
Some residents have since returned to dwell in lower-risk neighborhoods.
Iceland has 33 lively volcanic techniques and sits on what is named the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the boundary between the planet’s two largest tectonic plates.
The final time there was volcanic exercise within the Reykjanes Peninsula was 800 years in the past – and the eruptions continued for many years.
That is now the eighth eruption since 2021, and scientists consider the area is getting into a brand new volcanic age that might final a long time or centuries.
