A state of emergency has been declared in Iceland as a volcano near the evacuated seaside town of Grindavík erupted for the third time in two months, leading to the closure and evacuation of the renowned tourist destination Blue Lagoon.
The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) reported intense seismic activity in the region around Mount Sylingarfell, starting around 5:30 a.m. on Thursday. The eruption began approximately 30 minutes later, causing a large fissure about 2 miles long to open up, extending from Mount Sylingarfell to the eastern areas of Mount Stora-Skogfell. Lava shot up about 260 feet into the air, as per the IMO.
While activity has started to decrease, the IMO noted that the probability of new fissures opening up has also diminished. Thursday evening, the IMO stated, “Synchronously with the decreasing vigor of the eruption, the deformation signals detected at the dyke area diminished, indicating that magma is no longer ascending under as much pressure as before.”
Situated northeast of Grindavík, the eruption revived concerns in the evacuated town, which became a ghost town late last year when residents were instructed to leave due to increased earthquake activity and the appearance of large cracks in roads. The first eruption occurred on December 18, followed by a second eruption in January, during which lava infiltrated Grindavik, causing damage to homes and structures.
The ongoing volcanic activity highlights the need for continued monitoring and preparedness in the region to safeguard both residents and popular tourist destinations.
