Watch: A volcano erupts in Iceland after the earthquake and spews lava
A volcano in Iceland has erupted after months of tectonic activity and evacuated the nearby town.
In preparation for a long-awaited volcanic eruption in southwest Iceland this week, Thousands of residents They were evacuated from a small fishing town on the Reykjanes Peninsula.
More than 4000 people She left the nearby fishing town of Grindavik, less than two miles from the explosion site, on November 10 after seismic activity was detected in the area.
When did the volcano erupt?
The volcano exploded at 10:17 pm local time on Monday evening, spewing lava and creating a stunning visual spectacle. As of Tuesday morning, the ground crack had extended to 2.5 miles.
Local police announced that all roads leading to Grindavik were closed, except for first responders and other contractors working in the emergency area. “We would like to ask people not to go to the eruption and to remember that the gases resulting from this can be dangerous,” police wrote in a Facebook post in Icelandic.
The intensity of the explosion decreases when the eruption reaches “equilibrium”. Icelandic Meteorological Office reported on Tuesday.
“The fact that activity is actually decreasing is not an indication of how long the eruption will continue, but rather that the eruption is reaching equilibrium,” the office wrote on its website.
more: Iceland volcano eruption after earthquakes: see photos here
Nearby tourist attractions will be closed
Blue Lagoon Spa, a geothermal spa and the city’s main attraction, temporarily closed its facilities on Monday evening. The spa will remain closed until at least December 27, according to the Verge website. Posted on their website.
Operators of Svartsinje Power Station, a geothermal power plant located about 2.5 miles from Grindavik, kept the plant open as the volcano erupted and declared a state of emergency. The power plant is unmanned and can be controlled remotely. HS Orca, the company that owns the station, said: Posted on Facebook.
Will the volcanic eruption disrupt flights?
Keflavik Airport, about 13 miles from Grindavik, was still operating normally on Tuesday morning, although 13 flights had been canceled since the day before, according to a flight tracking service. Aviation Radar24.
This eruption is the fourth to occur on the Reykjanes Peninsula in the past three years, according to a statement issued by the Icelandic government. The government said a volcano erupts in Iceland every five years on average, but since 2021, that number has risen to about every 12 months.
“The Icelandic authorities are well prepared to confront the seismic events that occur regularly as a feature of our country’s natural geography,” he added. Government statement is reading.
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