Volcanic eruption in southwest Iceland triggers city evacuation; Houses were set on fire by the arrival of lava
Seismic activity increased overnight in the vicinity of Grindavík, marking the fifth eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula in a two-year period.
Volcano erupts near the town of Grindavík, Iceland -Photo Reproduction/Icelandic Coast Guard/AFP/Getty Images
A significant volcanic eruption in southwest Iceland, which began on Sunday (14), resulted in the immediate evacuation of the neighboring city of Grindavik. Originating from the Eyjafjallajökull volcano, known for its sporadic eruptions, this specific occurrence caused great concern due to its proximity to the small fishing town. The eruption spewed fountains of molten rock that reached the outskirts of the city, causing house fires. This event occurred less than a month after another eruption in the same area.
Two fissures appeared near the city this Sunday, resulting from an increase in seismic activity. This event led authorities to evacuate the small town for the second month in a row, due to the risk that seismic activities could cause. In recent days, authorities have been building earth and rock barriers to prevent lava from reaching the city, located about 40 kilometers from the capital Reykjavik. However, it appears that the latest eruption has managed to breach the city's defenses.
An IMO spokesperson from the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) told public broadcaster RUV that, according to initial images captured during the Coast Guard surveillance flight, a crack opened on both sides of the defenses that were being built north of Grindavík. According to information based on flow models, the lava could reach Grindavik within a few hours if it continued flowing towards the city.
Destruction as Lava Advances
The initial eruption began at 8 am local time (5 am in Brazil), when a fissure appeared in the ground approximately 450 meters from the location. The constructed composite defensive barriers directed lava from the first rift away from the city. However, around noon, a second crack appeared on the urban outskirts, resulting in the submersion of homes by lava. Intensely orange jets of lava flowed, while an immense cloud of smoke rose into the dark sky.
“In a small village like this, we are like a family, we all know each other as family – it is tragic to see this,” local resident Sveinn Ari Gudjonsson told Agence France-Presse. “It’s unreal, it’s like watching a movie,” added the 55-year-old, who works in the fishing industry.
The smoke and lava flowing from the volcano turn the night sky orange - Photo Reproduction/Icelandic Coast Guard/AFP/Getty Images
Eyjafjallajökull volcano
Iceland is situated between two of the largest tectonic plates on the planet, Eurasia and North America, which move in opposite directions. In 2010, ash clouds resulting from eruptions of Eyafjallajokull volcano, located in southern Iceland, spread across large areas of Europe, causing the cancellation of around 100,000 flights and forcing hundreds of Icelanders to leave their homes. Unlike Eyafjallajokull, Reykjanes' volcanic systems are not under glaciers, implying that they are not expected to trigger similar ash clouds.
This was the second volcanic eruption to occur on the Reykjanes peninsula, located in southwest Iceland, in less than a month and marks the fifth occurrence since 2021. Last month, on December 18, an eruption in the Svartsengi volcanic system resulted in the evacuation of Grindavik's 4,000 residents, in addition to the closure of the famous Lagoa Azul geothermal spa, a popular tourist spot. Although more than 100 Grindavik residents have returned in recent weeks, a new evacuation order was issued this Saturday, as announced by local authorities.
Impact on Population and Infrastructure
So far, there are no reports of injuries. However, several residents are dealing with the loss of their properties and belongings. Damage to local infrastructure includes blocked roads and communications disruptions, which is hampering response efforts. Icelandic President Guðni Jóhannesson, is scheduled to give a national speech at 8pm, as announced by Icelandic television RUV. "No lives are in danger," he said on his former Twitter account, "but infrastructure may be under threat," adding that airline flights were not affected.
Emergency personnel use excavators to build a protective wall to prevent the lava flow from reaching the center of Grindavík -Photography Reproduction/Halldor Kolbeins/AFP/Getty Images
Benedikt Ófeigsson, representative of the Icelandic Meteorological Office, informed RUV that the volcano continues to surprise, highlighting that, initially, the activity was slowing down, but, approximately half an hour or an hour ago, it resumed its intensity. Currently, there is no longer a decrease in the speed of the phenomenon in the city. Iceland's civil protection agency announced the increased alert level to "emergency", the highest level on its three-point scale, indicating the beginning of an event with the potential to cause harm to people, property, communities or the environment.
Alert to Surrounding Regions
Icelandic authorities have issued warnings for the surrounding regions, recommending additional precautions and constant monitoring of the situation. Authorities closely monitor the Svartsengi geothermal power plant, responsible for supplying electricity and water to 30,000 residents of the Reykjanes peninsula. In a separate incident, a search operation was called off on Saturday for a man who had reportedly fallen into a fissure in the city. The emergency services said they had made every effort to limit the risks to rescuers, but did not consider it justifiable to expose their lives to danger.
