Stunning second lava erupts from new volcanic fissure in Iceland

Watch the beautiful second lava erupts from new volcanic fissure in Iceland, the fourth eruption to hit the area since December.

Footage from the realm confirmed fountains of molten rock hovering from fissures in Iceland’s Reykjanes peninsula between stora Skogfell and Hagafell right now after authorities had warned for weeks that an eruption was imminent.

The eruption promoted a small variety of individuals to be evacuated from the area. 

‘Warning: An eruption started in Reykjanes,’ the Icelandic Meteorological Office mentioned on its web site, whereas Reykjavik’s Keflavik Airport’s web site confirmed it remained open each for departures and arrivals.

Icelandic police mentioned that they had declared a state of emergency for the realm and the Civil Defence authority dispatched a helicopter to survey the extent of the eruption.

Footage from the realm confirmed fountains of molten rock hovering from fissures in Iceland’s Reykjanes peninsula between stora Skogfell and Hagafell

The skyline of Reykjavik is in opposition to the backdrop of orange colored sky

People on the outskirts of Reykjavik take footage and selfies with the orange colored sky

Iceland’s Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management introduced it had despatched a helicopter to slender down the precise location of the brand new fissure.

Minutes earlier than the eruption, the IMO had issued an announcement saying that seismic exercise indicated that there was an elevated likelihood of an eruption.

Local media reported that the evacuation of the fishing city of Grindavik had began, residents having obtained textual content messages telling them to depart shortly.

Lava seemed to be flowing quickly south in direction of city, the place just a few of the practically 4,000 residents had returned following earlier outbreaks, the Met Office mentioned. 

The residents of Grindavik had been solely cleared to return to their houses on February 19 after having been evacuated on November 11.

On that event, tons of of tremors broken buildings and opened up enormous cracks in roads.

The quakes had been adopted by a volcanic fissure on December 18 that spared the village.

But a fissure opened proper in town’s edge, in January, sending lava flowing into the streets and lowering three houses to ashes, adopted by a 3rd eruption close to the village on February 8.

On Saturday night time, the city was once more being evacuated, public broadcaster RUV reported. An outbreak in January burned to the bottom a number of of its houses. 

‘We’re identical to, that is enterprise as ordinary,’ Kristin Maria Birgisdottir, who was evacuated from Grindavik in November, informed Reuters.

‘My son…simply known as me and mentioned, Mamma, do you know the eruption has began? And I used to be like, yeah, I did know. Oh, my grandma simply informed me. So it is like we do not even hassle telling one another anymore,’ she mentioned.

Icelandic police mentioned that they had declared a state of emergency for the realm.

The close by Blue Lagoon luxurious geothermal spa instantly shut its doorways, because it did throughout earlier eruptions.

Molten lava flows out from a fissure on the Reykjanes peninsula north of the evacuated city of Grindavik, western Iceland on March 16, 2024

Iceland, which is roughly the dimensions of the U.S. state of Kentucky, boasts greater than 30 energetic volcanoes, making the north European island a chief vacation spot for volcano tourism – a distinct segment section that pulls 1000’s of thrill seekers

‘We have evacuated and briefly closed all our operational items,’ the operator mentioned on its web site.

‘We will stay closed by means of Sunday, March 17. Further updates and data shall be offered right here as they develop into obtainable,’ it added.

Iceland, roughly the dimensions of the US state of Kentucky, boasts greater than 30 energetic volcanoes, making the north European island a chief vacation spot for volcano tourism – a distinct segment section that pulls 1000’s of thrill seekers.

In 2010, ash clouds from eruptions on the Eyafjallajokull volcano within the south of Iceland unfold over giant elements of Europe, grounding some 100,000 flights and forcing tons of of Icelanders to evacuate their houses.

Volcanic outbreaks within the Reykjanes peninsula are so-called fissure eruptions, which don’t normally trigger giant explosions or important dispersal of ash into the stratosphere.

Gases from the eruption had been travelling westwards out at sea, the meteorological workplace mentioned.

Scientists concern the eruptions might proceed for many years, and Icelandic authorities have began constructing dykes to divert burning lava flows away from houses and significant infrastructure.

The February eruption minimize off district heating to greater than 20,000 individuals as lava flows destroyed roads and pipelines.

Located between the Eurasian and the North American tectonic plates, among the many largest on the planet, Iceland is a seismic and volcanic sizzling spot as the 2 transfer in reverse instructions.