Iceland volcano live: Hotels and Blue Lagoon evacuated as eruption sends clouds of gas towards Grindivik
Authorities have evacuated families, hotel guests, and tourists from Grindavík, the nearby Blue Lagoon resort, and other surrounding areas as a precaution.
The eruption in the Sundhnúkur volcano on the Reykjanes Peninsula, which began early Wednesday, is the 12th since volcanic activity reawakened in the region in 2021.
According to Iceland's meteorological office, magma forced through the crust opened a fissure between 700 and 1,000m long.
'(It does) not threaten any infrastructure at this time,' the office said, adding that GPS and deformation data suggest it was a relatively small eruption.
Grindavík, which once housed nearly 4,000 people, was evacuated last year and remains largely empty due to ongoing volcanic risk.
Despite the dramatic lava flows, no disruption to flights at Keflavík airport has been reported.
The eruption is the latest in a growing sequence of volcanic events on the Reykjanes Peninsula, which began when dormant systems were reactivated in 2021 after centuries of silence.
Stuti Mishra16 July 2025 09:06
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The Independent
10 hours ago
- The Independent
Iceland volcano eruption live: Huge wall of fire expands to the north as gas cloud heads towards airport
The volcanic fissure that opened up in Iceland late on Tuesday has now expanded, and stretches further north than at any time since 2023. Lava and toxic gas continue to spill from the latest eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula. Officials say the crack in the ground measures some 2.4 kilometres, with fresh lava now covering 3.2 square kilometres. A large sulfur dioxide gas cloud is blowing toward Keflavík International Airport. Authorities have told people nearby to stay indoors and keep their windows shut as pollution levels rise. Despite this, flights are running normally and the airport remains open. Nearby towns, the popular Blue Lagoon spa, and other tourist sites were evacuated as a safety measure. Grindavík, a town evacuated last year, remains largely empty. This marks the twelfth eruption in the area since 2021 and is part of a growing sequence of volcanic events on the Reykjanes Peninsula, which began when dormant systems were reactivated after centuries of silence. Lava flow continues but has decreased in intensity, says IMO Iceland's Sundhnúkur crater continued this morning, though officials say there is a slowdown in both lava flows and earthquakes. The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) said the main fissure, which opened northeast of Stóra Skógfell early yesterday, has elongated and now extends further north than any since late 2023. Lava is mostly accumulating to the east, spreading across low-lying areas and covering about 3.2 square kilometres according to the latest satellite imagery. Volcanic tremor and seismic activity have dropped significantly since the initial outburst, with only a few minor quakes recorded per hour. "The eruption is ongoing, but intensity has declined since this morning," the IMO said in its latest update. However, hazardous gases and wildfires remain a serious risk for communities on the Reykjanes Peninsula, it said. High concentrations of sulfur dioxide are being measured over the region, extending westward on strong southeast winds. Residents in towns including Reykjanesbær, Vogar and Sandgerði were warned to keep windows closed, turn off ventilation, and stay indoors during high pollution periods. Stuti Mishra17 July 2025 07:56 Lava flows from wall of fire during volcanic eruption in Iceland Stuti Mishra17 July 2025 07:46 Evacuation went smoothly, police say Police commissioner Margret Palsdottir told AP the evacuation went smoothly and lasted about 90 minutes. 'Of course, people have different opinions on whether the evacuation is necessary, but it is a decision we make and take responsibility for,' she said. Stuti Mishra17 July 2025 07:12 Recent eruptions in Iceland Today's eruption near Sundhnúkur crater is the 12th since volcanic activity reawakened on the Reykjanes Peninsula in 2021, ending nearly 800 years of geological silence in the a quick look at the most recent eruptions in the same system: Dec 2023: A powerful fissure eruption near Hagafell led to the first full evacuation of Grindavík and triggered widespread ground deformation. Jan 2024: Lava breached defences, destroying homes and killing one person in a ground collapse. Feb 2024: A short but intense eruption cut off hot-water pipelines, causing major disruption in the region. Mar–May 2024: The longest and most voluminous eruption so far, lasting 54 days and producing 35 million cubic metres of lava. May–June 2024: Another eruption followed, keeping the region under continuous alert. Nov–Dec 2024: Lava reached the Blue Lagoon car park during a fissure event, prompting mass evacuations once again. Alexander Butler17 July 2025 03:00 Full story: Iceland volcano erupts opening up 1km-long fissure A volcano on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsulaerupted again on Wednesday, spewing lava and smoke in what officials say is the twelfth eruption in the region since 2021. The eruption prompted fresh evacuations from the nearby town of Grindavík, a luxury hotel, and the popular Blue Lagoon spa, Icelandicauthorities said. The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) said magma pushed through the earth's crust, opening a fissure estimated to be between 700 and 1,000 metres long. Tourists evacuated as Iceland volcano erupts opening up 1km-long fissure Eruption sent glowing lava and columns of smoke into air, with dramatic footage showing orange flows lighting up the dark volcanic landscape Alexander Butler17 July 2025 02:00 Evacuations ordered in Grindavík The eruption prompted fresh evacuations from the nearby town of Grindavík. However, the town has been almost empty for months. Authorities first ordered a full evacuation of the town in November 2023 after seismic activity and land deformation signalled a high risk of magma movement beneath the area. A fissure eruption in December caused structural damage to roads and buildings. Subsequent eruptions in January and February 2024 led to further destruction, including the collapse of homes and the death of one person due to ground cracking. Although some residents briefly returned during calmer periods, the area has remained largely off-limits. Alexander Butler17 July 2025 00:01 Evacuations ordered in Grindavík The eruption prompted fresh evacuations from the nearby town of Grindavík. However, the town has been almost empty for months. Authorities first ordered a full evacuation of the town in November 2023 after seismic activity and land deformation signalled a high risk of magma movement beneath the area. A fissure eruption in December caused structural damage to roads and buildings. Subsequent eruptions in January and February 2024 led to further destruction, including the collapse of homes and the death of one person due to ground cracking. Although some residents briefly returned during calmer periods, the area has remained largely off-limits. Alexander Butler16 July 2025 23:00 What makes Iceland so volcanically active? Iceland sits directly on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are pulling apart. This geological hotspot fuels regular volcanic and seismic activity. The Reykjanes Peninsula, now erupting again, had been dormant for 800 years before reawakening in 2021. Alexander Butler16 July 2025 22:00 This is what we know so far about the Sundhnúkur eruption in Iceland A volcanic eruption began early on Wednesday near Sundhnúkur crater on the Reykjanes Peninsula, southwest Iceland. Lava is flowing from a fissure estimated to be 700–1,000 metres long, according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO). Authorities evacuated Grindavík, the nearby Blue Lagoon resort, and surrounding areas as a safety measure. No infrastructure has been damaged so far, and there is currently no threat to populated areas. The eruption has not affected flights at Keflavík International Airport, operations are continuing as normal. This marks the 12th eruption in the Reykjanes region since 2021, part of a prolonged volcanic cycle. Experts warn that similar eruptions may continue in the region over the coming months or years. Alexander Butler16 July 2025 21:00 This is the 12th eruption in the region since 2021 The latest eruption is part of a broader pattern of seismic activity that reawakened the Reykjanes Peninsula in 2021 after centuries of dormancy. Since then, the area has seen repeated volcanic events, with fissure eruptions now becoming a near-annual phenomenon. Alexander Butler16 July 2025 20:00
The Guardian
12 hours ago
- The Guardian
Volcano on Reykjanes peninsula in Iceland erupts for ninth time since 2023
A volcano erupted on Wednesday on Iceland's Reykjanes peninsula in the south-west of the country, the ninth eruption in region since the end of 2023. The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) said the eruption had begun just before 4am local time (05:00 BST), and live video feeds showed lava spewing from a fissure in the ground. The IMO later said the main fissure was about 1.5 miles (2.4km) long, and that a second fissure of about 500 metres long had opened up nearby. Residents were advised to say indoors because high levels of toxic gas in the air. The broadcaster RUV reported that a nearby fishing village, Grindavík, had been evacuated, as had the Blue Lagoon spa, a famous tourist spot. Police commissioner Margrét Kristín Pálsdóttir told RUV the evacuation of about 100 people had gone smoothly. She also said police had prevented some tourists from entering the area. 'Of course, we understand that this is a fascinating event, especially for tourists who are not as accustomed to it as we are,' she said. Benedikt Ófeigsson, a geophysicist with the IMO, told RUV that the eruption didn't seem as big as earlier ones and was not near any infrastructure. The last eruption in the area was in April, and a risk assessment published on Tuesday didn't expect another eruption until the autumn. When the first eruption took place in late 2023, most of Grindavík's 4,000 residents were evacuated. Almost all of the homes in the village have since been sold to the state, and most of the residents have left. Volcanoes on the Reykjanes peninsula had not erupted for eight centuries when a period of heightened seismic activity began in March 2021. Sign up to This is Europe The most pressing stories and debates for Europeans – from identity to economics to the environment after newsletter promotion Volcanologists have said in recent years that activity in the region had entered a new era. RUV said the latest eruption was not expected to affect international flights. An eruption in another part of Iceland in 2010 caused worldwide travel chaos when an ash cloud forced the closure of airspace. Iceland has 33 active volcanic systems, more than any other European country. It is located on the mid-atlantic ridge, a fault line in the ocean floor between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates.
The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
Iceland volcano eruption: Watch lava shoot from 2km-long fissure
A 2km-long trail of hot lava flowed from a volcano in Iceland, which once again forced the evacuation of tourists at the internationally known Blue Lagoon geothermal spa after another eruption on Wednesday (16 July). Iceland's Met Office said the eruption began around 4am local time following an intense seismic swarm on the Reykjanes Peninsula, southwest of the capital, Reykjavik. A campsite in nearby Grindavik was evacuated shortly after the seismic activity began. The Met Office said lava from the eruption flowed southeast from a fissure in the barren landscape, but the molten rock isn't threatening any infrastructure.
