Latest news with #BlueLagoon
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Video Shows Massive Volcano Erupting in Iceland
A volcano in Iceland erupted on Wednesday, July 16, 2025 near the Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland. Intense seismic activity before the Sundhnukur volcano eruption prompted Icelandic authorities to evacuate surrounding areas, including hotels and the popular Blue Lagoon resort nearby. The Icelandic Meteorological Office reported the eruption officially began at 3:56 a.m. local time. Following updates from the office noted that the fissure in the earth's crust where lava was flowing was roughly 700 to 1,000 meters long, with lava flowing southeast and not approaching any infrastructure. The office's updates also include some photos of lava flowing as well as images displaying where the gas pollution from the eruption is heading. A video, published by afarTV, of the eruption provides the clearest look the impressive scene, though. A link to the video can be found here. Iceland's meteorological office began reporting updates on the situation at 1:20 a.m. local time, noting, "Intense seismic swarm has started on the Sundhnúksgígar Crater Row and monitoring data is indicating that an dike intrusion has started." "The likelihood of an eruption remains high while the intrusion is ongoing," the report continued. The office also reported later in the day at 8:45 a.m. local time a warning about dangerous "Witch's hair" in the area of the eruption. "These are fine glass fibers formed when lava droplets cool rapidly and stretch," the report noted. "They are very light and can travel long distances. Witch's hair can cause skin and eye irritation, and people are advised to take precautions when outdoors near the eruption site." The most recent update from the office, published at noon local time, noted the eruption has spread and "is no longer confined to a single fissure." The original fissure, which was as big as one kilometer has now spread to roughly 2.4 kilometers, or just over one mile, and another fissure has opened up that's roughly 500 meters wide. This is the 12th eruption for Iceland in just the last four years, according to Al-Jazeera. Video Shows Massive Volcano Erupting in Iceland first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 16, 2025 Solve the daily Crossword
The National
3 days ago
- The National
Iceland volcano eruption forces residents and spa tourists to be evacuated
Dramatic pictures show lava spewing into the air as a volcano erupted in south-western Iceland. The seismic activity took place on the Reykjanes Peninsula south-west of capital Reykjavik on Wednesday at about 4am, Iceland's Met Office said. It forced residents and tourists at the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa to be evacuated, the national broadcaster RUV reported. About 100 people were evacuated from the nearby town of Grindavik. Tourists at a campsite and guests at the Blue Lagoon were also forced to leave, RUV reported. 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. Lava from the eruption continued to flow south-east from a fissure of 700 to 1,000 metres wide but was not threatening infrastructure, the Met Office said. Grindavik has been affected by activity since November 2023 when a volcano came to life after lying dormant for 800 years. Watch: Reykjanes volcano eruption in August 2024
Gizmodo
4 days ago
- Gizmodo
A Mile-Long Gateway to Hell Opens Up in Iceland
A volcanic eruption in Southwestern Iceland forced the evacuation of a nearby town and the world-famous Blue Lagoon geothermal spa on Wednesday, July 16. Media images captured huge plumes of smoke and glowing lava flows spewing from an enormous crack in Earth's surface roughly 30 miles (18.6 miles) southwest of Reykjavík. This marks the twelfth eruption since volcanic activity reawakened in this region in 2021. The eruption began on the Reykjanes Peninsula's Sundhnúkur crater row around 4 a.m. local time, according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office. An intense earthquake swarm—a sequence of small earthquakes with no distinct mainshock—preceded the eruption. Just after 5 a.m., lava began flowing southeast from an eruptive fissure that stretched roughly 2,300 to 3,300 feet (700 to 1,000 meters) long. As of 12 p.m., the eruption was no longer contained to a single fissure, the Met Office said. The larger, main fissure at Sundhnúkur crater had grown to a length of 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers), and a smaller, 1,600-foot-long (500-meter-long) fissure had opened up west of the volcano Fagradalsfjall. The Government of Iceland says this eruption is highly localized and poses no threat to infrastructure, tourist attractions, or air traffic, but it does pose certain health hazards. Just before 9 a.m., the Met Office reported 'witch's hair' drifting in the wind. These are fine glass fibers that form when lava droplets rapidly cool and stretch. Because they can cause skin and eye irritation, officials advised locals to take precautions when outdoors near the eruption site. In Reykjanesbær, home to roughly 20,000 residents, officials also detected high levels of volcanic gases. These pollutants can irritate the respiratory system, but levels were decreasing around 9 a.m., according to the Met Office. In an abundance of caution, officials ordered evacuations for the nearby town of Grindavík and the Blue Lagoon. Prior to 2023, Grindavík was home to nearly 4,000 residents, but its population shrunk significantly in recent years due to heightened volcanic activity in its locality. In 2021, powerful earthquakes began rumbling beneath this small town, generated by magma movement within the Fagradalsfjall volcanic system. In March of that year, Fagradalsfjall erupted for the first time in 800 years, putting an end to centuries of volcanic dormancy on Reykjanes Peninsula. Since 2023, Grindavík has faced repeated eruptions from Sundhnúkur, forcing residents to confront the reality of living atop an active volcanic zone. The town has remained mostly deserted since signs of an impending fissure eruption prompted an evacuation order in November 2023. The volcano finally erupted in December, causing structural damage to roads and buildings. Subsequent eruptions in 2024 caused further damage. By now, almost all residents have sold their houses to the state and left town. The desertion has contributed to a 4.4% population decline in Iceland's Suðurnes region, according to Iceland Review. It's unlikely that Grindavík's circumstances will improve anytime soon. Experts have said the eruptions in the area could recur for centuries, Reuters reports. So far, eruptions on the Reykjanes peninsula have not posed a threat to Reykjavik or disrupted air traffic in and out of Iceland. If that changes, these eruptions could have a national impact, taking a toll on Iceland's booming tourism industry.
The Independent
4 days 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.
CTV News
4 days ago
- CTV News
Iceland volcano eruption forces evacuation of town and iconic geothermal spa
The entrance of the Blue Lagoon as the volcano erupts in the background in Grindavik, Iceland, Sunday, June 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Marco di Marco) LONDON -- A volcanic eruption in southwestern Iceland has once again forced the evacuation of local residents and the internationally known Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, the national broadcaster RUV reported. The eruption began around 4 a.m. Wednesday following an intense seismic swarm on the Reykjanes Peninsula, southwest of the capital, Reykjavik, Iceland's Met Office said. Some 100 people were evacuated from the town of Grindavik shortly after the seismic activity began. Tourists at a campsite and guests at the Blue Lagoon were forced to quickly pack their bags, RUV reported. Margret Kristin Palsdottir, a local police commissioner, said 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. Lava from the eruption is flowing southeast from a fissure in the barren landscape that is 700 to 1,000 metres (2,296 to 3,280 feet) wide, but the molten rock isn't threatening any infrastructure, the Met Office said. Grindavik has been repeatedly affected by the activity since November 2023 when a volcano in the area came to life after lying dormant for some 800 years.
