The eruption, described as the most potent manifestation of volcanic activity to date, has breached the eastern perimeters of the deserted town of Grindavik, according to reports from local media outlets. This eruption, marked by its formidable power, has necessitated the evacuation not only of Grindavik's residents but also of visitors from the famed Blue Lagoon, a beloved tourist destination in Iceland.
Despite the ominous spectacle of billowing smoke and molten lava, Iceland's airspace has remained operational. The eruption, which commenced around 20:00 local time on Saturday between Hagafell and Stora-Scogfell, situated north of Grindavik, shares striking similarities with a previous eruption that occurred on December 8.
Aerial footage captured the dramatic scenes of smoke clouds engulfing the sky, while rivers of molten magma seeped and bubbled from fractures in the earth's surface. Remarkably, Keflavik International Airport and other nearby airports have remained unaffected by the eruption.
Geophysicist Magnus Tumi Gudmundsson, who conducted aerial surveys of the affected areas via helicopter, affirmed that Saturday's eruption marked the most forceful occurrence thus far. With two tongues of lava relentlessly advancing westward and southward, reports indicate that one of these lava streams has breached Grindavik's eastern defenses.
There exists a looming possibility of lava cascading into the sea, potentially triggering perilous gases and minor explosions upon contact with seawater, cautioned Einar Bessi Gestsson, a natural disaster expert. Simultaneously, the lava's westward trajectory has purportedly reached the Grindavikurveg road, leading toward both the Blue Lagoon and the Svartsengi geothermal power plant.
The expansive lava bed, broader than witnessed in February, has necessitated the construction of numerous protective embankments, according to Rikke Pedersen, the director of the Nordic Volcanological Centre based in Reykjavik.
Amid apprehensions of infrastructure damage, particularly to fiber optic cables crucial for telecommunications, the Blue Lagoon has prudently shuttered its operations until further notice. Notably, approximately 500-600 individuals were present in the vicinity when the eruption unfolded, with between five and ten residences in Grindavik being vacated.
The residents of Grindavik, who only recently resettled after an eruption in January, which saw the incursion of magma into the township and the destruction of three homes, now face the dilemma of returning once more. Many have opted against it, reflecting the persistent uncertainty and peril that loom over the region.
Iceland, home to 33 active volcano systems, straddles the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a pivotal juncture between two major tectonic plates. The Reykjanes Peninsula, dormant for 800 years, has awakened with a series of eruptions since 2021, suggesting an ominous transition into a new volcanic epoch anticipated to endure for decades, if not centuries.
