Lava continued to spurt from a volcano in southwestern Iceland on Thursday, following a significant eruption the day before. This event marked the fifth and most powerful eruption since the volcanic system near Grindavik reawakened in December after 800 years of dormancy. The lava flow reached record levels, with the fissure expanding to 3.5 kilometers in length.
Volcanologist calculations revealed the staggering amount of lava initially flowing from the crater, which could have buried Wembley Stadium in London under 15 meters of lava every minute. The eruption sent jets of magma soaring up to 50 meters into the atmosphere, indicating a powerful volcanic event.
The eruption once again posed a threat to Grindavik, a coastal town of 3,800 residents, leading to the evacuation of the popular Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, a major tourist attraction in Iceland. Protective barriers outside Grindavik managed to deflect the lava flow, but the town remained without electricity, with two out of three roads into town inundated with lava.
Grindavik Mayor Fannar Jónasson expressed relief at the situation compared to the eruption's initial stages. Volcanologist Dave McGarvie noted that the eruption's intensity stemmed from a significant accumulation of magma underground before it erupted, a pattern observed in previous eruptions of this volcano.
Iceland, located above a volcanic hot spot in the North Atlantic, experiences regular volcanic activity. The recent eruptions have not impacted aviation, unlike the disruptive 2010 eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which caused widespread airspace closures over Europe.
The duration of the current eruption remains uncertain, with researchers closely monitoring the situation. McGarvie emphasized that this volcanic activity in Iceland presents new challenges due to its unique characteristics.
