Iceland volcano erupts after Blue Lagoon evacuated

After evacuation of nearby cities and popular tourist destinations, Blue Lagoon SPA, the volcano exploded on the REKJANES peninsula in southwestern Iceland.

Iceland’s Meteorological Agency said that differentiation began to the small village of Grindavík that the eruption started 09.45 hours (10:45 BST) in the local time. In less than an hour, the cracks were 2296 feet (2296 feet) and continued to grow.

The explosion occurred after hundreds of earthquakes hit the area known as the Sundhnúks Crater Row at 06:30 local time.

Grindavík and Blue Lagoon were ordered to evacuate ahead of differentiation. Roads inside and outside the city are closed, but flights are not currently affected.

Spa said on the website that Blue Lagoon will close until Tuesday.

As of 11:20 local time, Iceland’s Meteorological Agency (IMO) said that the original cracks were extended south and a new crack was opened.

Officials urged all who remained in Grindavík to leave. Early Tuesday, Icelandic media reported that some individuals refused to follow the evacuation order.

The police chief of the area úlfar lúvíksson said in the local media that residents occupy only 40 houses according to their previous volcanic activities.

Most of the 4,000 residents of Grindavík were permanently evacuated in November 2023 before differentiation in December 2023 and January, February and March 2024.

The magma formed in Tuesday’s crater series is about 11 km (6.8 miles) and the longest measured after November 11, 2023.

Depending on the current wind direction, gas contamination due to differentiation will move northeast toward the capital area, the IMO added.

Since 2021, many differentiation has occurred on the REYKJANES peninsula.

It was 800 years ago that the peninsula had the last volcanic activity period and the eruption lasted for decades.

Iceland has 33 active volcanic systems and is located in the Mid -atlantic Ridge, the boundary between the largest tectonic plates on Earth.