© Reuters. Smoke rises as a volcano erupts alongside Route 41 within the Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland December 19, 2023. REUTERS/Sigurdur Davidsson/FILE PHOTO
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -A volcano in Iceland erupted on Saturday for the fourth time since December, the nation’s meteorological workplace mentioned, spewing smoke and brilliant orange lava into the air in sharp distinction towards the darkish night time sky.
In a video shot from a Coast Guard helicopter and proven on public broadcaster RUV, fountains of molten rock soared from a protracted fissure within the floor, and lava unfold quickly to every facet.
The eruption started at 2023 GMT and the fissure was estimated to be about 2.9 kilometres lengthy, roughly the identical dimension because the final eruption in February, the Icelandic Meteorological Workplace mentioned in a press release.
Authorities had warned for weeks that an eruption was imminent on the Reykjanes peninsula simply south of Iceland’s capital Reykjavik.
The positioning of the eruption was between Hagafell and Stora-Skogfell, the identical space because the earlier outbreak on Feb. 8, the Met Workplace mentioned.
Reykjavik’s Keflavik Airport’s web site confirmed it remained open each for departures and arrivals.
Lava gave the impression to be flowing quickly south in the direction of the close by Grindavik fishing city, the place a number of of the almost 4,000 residents had returned following earlier outbreaks, the Met Workplace mentioned.
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 traditional,” Kristin Maria Birgisdottir, who was evacuated from Grindavik in November, advised 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 advised me. So it is like we do not even trouble telling one another anymore,” she mentioned.
Icelandic police mentioned that they had declared a state of emergency for the world.
The close by Blue Lagoon luxurious geothermal spa instantly shut its doorways, because it did throughout earlier eruptions.
Iceland, roughly the dimensions of the U.S. state of Kentucky, boasts greater than 30 energetic volcanoes, making the north European island a major vacation spot for volcano tourism – a distinct segment phase that pulls hundreds 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 a whole bunch of Icelanders to evacuate their houses.
Volcanic outbreaks within the Reykjanes peninsula are so-called fissure eruptions, which don’t often trigger giant explosions or important dispersal of ash into the stratosphere.
Gases from the eruption have 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 demanding infrastructure.
The February eruption minimize off district heating to greater than 20,000 folks as lava flows destroyed roads and pipelines.
Situated 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.