Arab Weather - The Meteorological Office in Iceland reported a volcanic eruption in the late hours of yesterday evening (Monday) in the southwest of the country, where lava was ejected and smoke was emitted over a wide area. This eruption came after violent seismic activity that continued for several weeks, posing a threat to one of the... Nearby towns.
In a precautionary step and for fear of the possibility of a major volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula, approximately 4,000 residents of the town of Grindavik, known for its fishing activity, were transferred, and the Blue Lagoon geothermal resort, which is located near the town, was closed, and the Meteorological Office stated. On its website there is a warning stating:
“The eruption began north of Grindavik near Hagavitl.”
Lava spreads through the streets of #Iceland after a volcanic eruption #IcelandVolcano pic.twitter.com/7dIJZVewVD
— The Interventionist (@Intrvntnst) January 15, 2024
Iceland's Meteorological Office reports that the eruption began just a few kilometers from a town, with cracks in the ground extending toward a village located about 40 kilometers southwest of the capital, Reykjavik.
Despite this, Keflavik International Airport remained open, and although delays were recorded in many arriving and departing flights, traffic did not stop. Pictures and a live broadcast of the volcanic eruption showed molten rocks emerging amazingly from cracks in the ground, varying in bright yellow and orange colors in the darkness. .
The Meteorological Office reported that seismic activity and GPS measurements indicate the movement of molten volcanic rocks towards the southwest, which means the eruption will continue towards Grindavik. It explained that the length of the crack in the Earth’s surface is about 3.5 kilometers and is increasing rapidly, indicating that the volcano is ejecting about 100 to 200 cubic meters of lava per second, surpassing previous eruptions in the area.
The local police raised the alert level, and the Civil Defense warned citizens not to approach the area, while the emergency team is assessing the situation, and indicates that Iceland is located between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates, which are among the largest tectonic plates on the face of the Earth, making it an active center for earthquakes and volcanoes. .
Read also:
More than a thousand tremors in just 24 hours in Iceland and expectations of a volcanic eruption
A volcano erupts in southwest Iceland weeks after the earthquake
Sources:
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