On Monday, the 18th of December, a volcano erupted on the Reykjanes peninsula in south-west Iceland, spewing lava more than 100 metres high after several weeks of intense earthquake activity. According to the Icelandic Meteorological Office, the eruption north of the town started at 22:17 local time, reports Reuters.
On Monday, the Iceland Meteorological Office issued a warning of an eruption north of Grindavik, warning that cracks in the ground were extending into the city, indicating that the eruption could hit the town.
The crack in the earth’s surface was about 3.5 km long and was widening rapidly,
the service added in a statement. The eruption released 100 to 200 cubic metres of lava per second, significantly more than previous eruptions in the area.
Incredible footage: Volcano erupts in southwest Iceland, with geysers of molten lava shooting into the pitch-black night sky after weeks of earthquakes
READ: https://t.co/tyqzv0zMll pic.twitter.com/hmQeYLBYxn
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) December 19, 2023
But geologists and rescue officials said on Tuesday that lava from Iceland’s volcanic eruption was flowing away from Grindavik, giving hope that homes in the region would be spared. The Icelandic government said the eruption posed no threat to human life, according to Reuters. Keflavik International Airport remained open.
Images and live streams showed the eruption’s bright yellow, orange, and red lava against the night sky.
Meanwhile, a volcano erupts in Iceland. pic.twitter.com/CnNlXU4w5n
— Rami Jarrah (@RamiJarrah) December 19, 2023
Iceland is located between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates, so the movement of the plates in opposite directions has led to seismic and volcanic activity in Iceland.
Last month, the authorities evacuated almost 4 000 people from the town of Grindavik.
Also read: Earthquakes in Iceland weaken but volcano warning remains
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