On Thursday night, the Reykjanes peninsula in southwestern Iceland witnessed an astonishing natural spectacle. For the sixth time since December, a volcano in the region erupted, lighting up the night sky with a stunning display of red lava.
The eruption began shortly after 9:00 p.m. local time, marking the sixth episode of volcanic activity in the area since the end of last year. The phenomenon was characterized by the opening of a new 4 kilometer fissure in the Sundhnúkur craterpreceded by a series of strong earthquakes that served as precursors to the imminent volcanic activity. He lava flowvisible from a great distance, has created a nighttime spectacle that will likely last several days or even weeks, based on patterns observed in previous eruptions.
Despite the magnitude of the event, Icelandic authorities assure that the effects of the eruption remain localized and do not pose an immediate threat to populated areas. However, preventative measures have been implemented, including the closure of roads in the vicinity of the eruption. The volcanic gas emission nearby is cause for caution, and monitoring teams maintain constant surveillance of seismic and volcanic activity.
Grindavik, Icelandic volcanic epicenter, not affected at the moment
The city of Grindavik, which was evacuated in December during a previous episode and also on other occasions during this year 2024. It is not currently in the path of the lava flow.
However, authorities maintain a state of alert and have updated evacuation plans, ready to be implemented if the situation changes. The civil protection teams remain on high alertprepared to respond to any eventuality.
Experts talk about the situation in the area
Experts in volcanology and geophysics have offered their analyzes of the situation. Halldór Björnsson, head of climate at the Norwegian Meteorological Agency, confirmed that the lava flow is not directed towards populated areasdifferentiating this eruption from previous events.
For his part, geophysicist Magnús Tuma Guðmundsson, after flying over the eruption centers, predicted that activity has already peaked and will begin to decline, following the pattern of previous eruptions. Both experts emphasize the importance of continuous monitoring to anticipate possible changes in volcanic activity in Iceland.
Volcanic tourism in Iceland
The eruption has quickly become a tourist attraction focusattracting hundreds of local spectators and international tourists to safe viewing points. This phenomenon has caused an increase in hotel and tour reservations in the region, boosting the local economy. Authorities have designated specific areas for safe observationand specialized tour guides offer tours at appropriate distances, balancing the unique experience with visitor safety.
Mahnoor Ali, a visitor from the United States, described the experience as “the most incredible thing I have ever seen in my entire life,” confessing that he initially mistook the eruption for the northern lights. Ameerul Awalludin from Malaysia and Shohei Miyamito from Japan, who rushed to the scene after hearing the news, compared the experience to volcanoes in their home countries. Miyamito highlighted: “We have volcanoes too, but we can’t see lava like this.”underlining the uniqueness of the Icelandic show.
Minimal impact of the new eruption on flights
The good news is that the eruption has minimal effect on aviation, this time. Keflavík Airport is operating normally, and no significant flight disruptions are expected.
However, aviation authorities maintain uconstant surveillance and have contingency plans ready in case volcanic activity changes. Travelers are advised to check their flight updates with airlines and stay informed about possible changes in the situation.
