Iceland town and Blue Lagoon spa evacuated after volcano erupts
Topic:Volcanic Eruptions
12m ago12 minutes agoTue 1 Apr 2025 at 2:50pm
Panoramic view of lava
The Blue Lagoon area to the right after the volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula. (AP: Photo/Marco di Marco)
In short:
Thousands of people have been evacuated from an Icelandic town and spa after a volcanic eruption.
The North Atlantic island nation has now seen 11 eruptions south of Reykjavik since 2021.
Emergency services also evacuated the nearby Blue Lagoon luxury spa hours ahead of the eruption.
A volcano has erupted near Iceland's capital, spewing lava and smoke, and triggering the evacuation of tourists and residents.
Referred to as a land of ice and fire for its many glaciers and volcanoes, the North Atlantic island nation has now seen 11 eruptions south of Reykjavik since 2021.
"Warning: An eruption has begun," the Icelandic meteorological office said in a statement.
Red, steaming lava flowing through a field
A fiery display of orange and red lava following the eruption in Iceland. (AP: Photo/Marco di Marco)
The outbreak flowed close to a fishing town, Grindavik, triggering an evacuation to residents who had returned following previous eruptions, although most houses have stood empty for over a year.
"There is lava coming within the barrier at the moment, but it's a very limited eruption so far," head of the Nordic Volcanological Center, Rikke Pedersen said.
Emergency services also evacuated the nearby Blue Lagoon luxury spa in the hours ahead of the eruption, as geologists had warned it was imminent.
Ms Pedersen said the outbreak was similar in size to an eruption from January 2024, which spewed lava into Grindavik.
Lava splashing up out of a field
An areal view of the volcanic eruption near the town of Grindavik. (AP: Photo/Marco di Marco)
The eruptions on the Reykjanes peninsula so far have not directly affected the capital city Reykjavik and have not caused air traffic disruption.
Icelandic experts predict that the eruptions, characterised by lava flowing out of long cracks in the earth's crust rather than a single volcanic opening, could repeat themselves for decades, or even centuries.
Iceland, home to nearly 400,000 people, attracts thousands of tourists every year who come to explore its rugged nature, including geysers, hot springs and volcanoes.
Iceland sits where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates are pulling apart, and is largely covered by black lava fields, contrasted with glaciers and blankets of vibrant green moss.
Posted12m ago12 minutes agoTue 1 Apr 2025 at 2:50pm
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