Grindavík Under Threat: Another Volcanic Eruption Strikes Iceland

Iceland's Reykjanes peninsula has been active since 2021, with the latest eruption occurring on a Tuesday morning. This event marked the 11th eruption in the area, causing the evacuation of the town of Grindavík and the popular Blue Lagoon spa. The Icelandic Meteorological Office reported an earthquake swarm around 6:30 AM near the Sundhnúkur crater row. This activity led to an eruption at 9:45 AM, just north of the protective barrier near Grindavík. The fissure, glowing orange-red, quickly spread southward, reaching the defense walls north of the town by 10:00 AM. By 10:30 AM, it was estimated to be 700 meters long. The town of Grindavík has been largely uninhabited since a previous eruption in November 2023. That event caused significant damage, with fissures reaching depths of 20 meters. Although some residents and businesses returned, most had already relocated due to the uninhabitable conditions. The state had bought up most of the buildings, making it difficult for people to stay. The regional police confirmed the evacuation of Grindavík, except for a few residents who chose to stay. The Blue Lagoon, a major tourist attraction, was also evacuated successfully. The director of civil protection, Ch Supt Runólfur Þórhallsson, urged the remaining residents to leave, warning that the eruption could be more severe than previous ones due to the longer magma tunnel and accumulated magma. The Blue Lagoon announced its temporary closure due to the eruption, promising updates as more information became available. Earlier in the day, the Icelandic Meteorological Office noted stronger signals, indicating a significant amount of magma movement. Emergency responders reported earthquakes and visible deformation in Grindavík, suggesting potential fault movements within the town. The Icelandic tourist board assured that there was no threat to the population, and flights at Keflavík airport continued as usual. The area around the eruption was closed off, with gas pollution monitored in isolated areas. The eruption's development was closely watched, and further information was expected to be released soon. Despite the November 2023 eruption's impact on tourist numbers, there has been a slight increase in visitors. Statistics Iceland reported a 2% rise in foreign nationals through Keflavík airport in 2023-24, with overnight hotel stays in November 2024 also showing an increase compared to the previous year.