Iceland’s violent volcanic flare-up triggers state of emergency
Southern Iceland has entered a state of emergency following yet another volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula, marking the fourth such event since December.
Commencing late on Saturday, the eruption unleashed powerful and swiftly moving lava flows, although the flow has maintained a consistent, slow pace since Sunday morning, as reported by the Icelandic Met Office (IMO).
Lava has encroached upon the eastern perimeter of the mostly evacuated town of Grindavik. The IMO has cautioned that the lava is now within 200 meters (approximately 650 feet) of the region’s water pipeline, which supplies the Svartsengi power plant.
This plant, a major geothermal facility, serves as the primary source of hot water for much of the Reykjanes Peninsula.
Experts from the Norwegian Meteorological Agency have expressed concerns about potential hazards should the lava reach the sea as it progresses southward.
Kristin Jonsdottir, quoted by Iceland’s public broadcaster (RUV), highlighted the risk of chlorine fumes being generated if the alkaline lava comes into contact with seawater. Additionally, there is a possibility of minor explosions if the interaction between lava and seawater destabilizes the lava flow.
The eruption commenced at 20:23 local time (20:23 GMT) on Saturday, north of Grindavik, according to the country’s meteorological office. This eruption shares a similar location with the previous event that began on December 8th.
Video footage captured the eruption, revealing billowing clouds of smoke and molten magma emanating from vents in the earth’s surface. Fortunately, the explosion has not impacted the primary international airport situated to the northwest of Grindavik.
Geophysicist Magnus Tumi Gudmundsson, who was among those to fly over the affected areas in a helicopter, told local media that Saturday’s eruption was the most powerful so far.
Two lava streams have been moving west and south. Local media reported that lava from the latter had reached Grindavik’s eastern defense walls.
Mr Gudmundsson said it was also possible lava could flow into the sea, but that this may not happen if the volcanic activity eases.
The IMO earlier said this lava bed was “significantly wider” than in February when an earlier eruption caused lava to flow in a similar direction.
Many protective embankments have been built around both, the head of the Reykjavik-based Nordic Volcanological Centre, Rikke Pedersen, told Reuters.
There are concerns that fiber optic cables on the road could be damaged – disrupting phone and internet services.
The lava was heading in the direction of the Blue Lagoon, which is closed until further notice as a precaution.
There were between 500-600 people in the area when Saturday’s eruption happened, Ms Pedersen said.
Between five and 10 homes in Grindavik were also cleared.
The town’s roughly 4,000 residents were only allowed to return to their homes about a month ago after an eruption in January saw magma spread into the town, destroying three homes.
Most of them have chosen not to return. But few have stayed.
In an interview with the BBC World Service’s Newsroom program, Icelandic journalist Lara Omarsdottir said most of the people living in Grindavik have left already.
Asked whether people will move away from Grindavik, she said many will move, and “about 30% have already decided to sell their properties”.
But some “10-20%” are not going anywhere, she added, “they just want to live in Grindavik despite this”.
Iceland has 33 active volcano systems and sits over what is known as the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the boundary between two of the largest tectonic plates on the planet.
The last time the Reykjanes Peninsula had a period of volcanic activity was 800 years ago – and the eruptions went on for decades.
This is now the seventh eruption since 2021, and scientists believe the area is entering a new volcanic era that could last for decades or even centuries.
