Another volcanic eruption has begun on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula, marking the latest in a series of ongoing eruptive episodes. The eruption, which started on August 22nd near the town of Grindavík, was preceded by weeks of heightened seismic activity.
The eruption is located within the Sundhnúksgígaröð area, remarkably close to the site of last May’s eruption. As of 10:15 PM, the fissure stretches an impressive 1.4 kilometers, and experts anticipate it will continue to grow over the coming hours – particularly northwards.
Despite the precautions, the suddenness of the eruption prompted a rapid response. An emergency phase was declared, and the area around Grindavík was evacuated. Though few residents remained in the town due to ongoing volcanic unrest, some workers involved in constructing protective measures were present and safely removed.
Icelandic authorities have urged the public to stay away from the eruption site, both for their own safety and to avoid hindering response crews.