A volcano in southwestern Iceland erupted again on Thursday, August 22, 2024, marking its sixth eruption since December. AP Photo


August 23, 2024 Tags:

On Thursday, a volcano in southwestern Iceland erupted once again, marking its sixth outbreak since December. This latest eruption, reported by the Icelandic Met Office, saw lava and smoke shooting from a fissure that stretched about 3.9 kilometres (2.42 miles), extending by 1.5 kilometres within just 40 minutes.
The dramatic scene, captured by live streams, displayed glowing lava cascading against the dark night sky, with bright hues of yellow and orange contrasting vividly. Despite the striking visuals, the eruption's impact has been confined to a small area near the volcano, and no immediate danger to people has been reported. The nearby region has been evacuated as a precaution, according to Iceland's foreign affairs ministry.

The lava flow from this eruption is not heading towards Grindavik, a nearby fishing town that has been largely evacuated since November. The eruption occurred on the Sundhnukar crater row, east of the Sylingafell mountain, overlapping previous volcanic activity on the Reykjanes peninsula. This area is characterized by a volcanic system with large cracks rather than a central crater.

The town of Grindavik, with a population of 3,800 and located about 50 kilometres southwest of Reykjavik, was evacuated in November. AP Photo

Recent studies have indicated that magma was building up underground, leading to warnings about possible new volcanic activity in the region south of Iceland's capital, Reykjavik. The most recent eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula, which ended on June 22, lasted for 24 days and saw fountains of molten rock.

A volcano erupted near Vogar, Iceland, on August 22, 2024, as shown in this social media image. Reuters

Iceland faces significant challenges due to these repeated eruptions. The Reykjanes peninsula, home to around 30,000 people—about 8% of Iceland's population—could experience volcanic activity for decades or even centuries. Since 2021, there have been nine eruptions in this area, following the reactivation of geological systems dormant for 800 years.

In response to the frequent eruptions, authorities have built barriers to redirect lava flows away from critical infrastructure such as the Svartsengi power plant, the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, and the town of Grindavik. The eruption has not affected flights, and Reykjavik's Keflavik Airport remains operational. However, the Blue Lagoon luxury spa has temporarily closed and evacuated its guests due to the proximity of the eruption.

Fissure eruptions like the one on Thursday do not typically disrupt air travel, as they do not usually produce large explosions or significant ash clouds. Iceland's volcanic activity, which includes more than 30 active volcanoes, attracts many visitors interested in volcano tourism, a niche but popular segment for adventure seekers.

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

You may also like

Israel Expands Gaza Operation To Seize Large Areas, Orders Mass Evacuations

Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, announced on Wednesday a major expansion of the military operation in Gaza. The plan includes....

Palestinian Man Tortured To Death After Criticizing Hamas, Family Says

A 22-year-old Palestinian man, Uday Rabie, was tortured and killed after publicly criticizing Hamas and joining protests against the group....

Iceland Volcano Erupts, Forcing Evacuations Near Grindavik

A powerful volcanic eruption in southwest Iceland has forced residents and tourists to evacuate. The volcano erupted early in the....

U.S. Seeks Death Penalty For Luigi Mangione In CEO’s Murder

U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi has ordered federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty for Luigi Mangione. He is accused....

UAE Court Sentences Three To Death For Murder Of Rabbi Zvi Kogan

A court in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has sentenced three people to death for the murder of Zvi Kogan,....

Bodies Of Aid Workers Found In Gaza Mass Grave After Israeli Attacks

The bodies of more than a dozen aid workers have been found in southern Gaza, after they were reported missing....

Rescue efforts fade three days after quake kills 2,000 in Myanmar

Rescue teams are still searching for survivors in Myanmar, three days after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake devastated the region. The....

Marine Le Pen Banned From Presidency Run After Embezzlement Conviction

Le Pen was given a four-year prison sentence, with two years suspended, and also fined. However, neither the sentence nor....

Israel Strikes Southern Beirut After Accusing Hezbollah Of Rocket Fire

Israel launched airstrikes on southern Beirut on Friday for the first time since the November ceasefire. The strike came after....

Massive Earthquake Kills Over 694 & Injures 1600  In Myanmar and Thailand

A powerful earthquake measuring 7.7 magnitude hit central Myanmar, causing widespread destruction and claiming over 150 lives. The tremors were....

Venezuelans Deported To Mega-Prison Face Harsh, Inescapable Conditions

Gertrudis Pineda is devastated. Her son, Oscar, is among 238 Venezuelans deported by the US to a notorious high-security prison....

Aid Workers Killed And Missing In Gaza As Israeli Blockade Continues

More than a dozen aid workers have died or gone missing in Gaza in recent days as Israel’s blockade on....