Latest news with #IcelandicMetOffice
CNA
7 days ago
- CNA
Iceland volcano erupts for ninth time since 2023
REYKJAVIK: A volcano erupted on Iceland's Reykjanes peninsula in the southwest on Wednesday (July 16), marking the ninth such event in the region since late 2023, according to weather authorities. Live footage showed lava spewing from a fissure in the ground, with the Icelandic Met Office saying the eruption began just before 4.00am local time (0400 GMT). Later in the day, the weather agency reported that the main fissure stretched approximately 2.4 kilometres (1.5 miles), and a second smaller fissure of about 500 metres had opened nearby. EVACUATIONS AND HEALTH WARNINGS Residents were advised to stay indoors due to elevated gas pollution levels. The nearby fishing village of Grindavik and the popular Blue Lagoon tourist attraction were both evacuated, broadcaster RUV reported. Police Commissioner Margret Kristin Palsdottir told RUV that around 100 people were evacuated from Grindavik and the operation had gone smoothly. She added that police had stopped some tourists from entering the danger zone. "Of course, we understand that this is a fascinating event, especially for tourists who are not as accustomed to it as we are," Palsdottir said. ERUPTION CONSIDERED LESS SEVERE Geophysicist Benedikt Ofeigsson told RUV the eruption appeared smaller than previous ones and was well-situated, as it was not close to any critical infrastructure. A risk assessment released on Tuesday had predicted no new eruptions before the autumn. The last eruption in the area occurred in April. When the first eruption hit in late 2023, most of Grindavik's 4,000 residents were evacuated. Since then, nearly all of the town's homes have been sold to the state and most residents have relocated. The Reykjanes peninsula had remained dormant for eight centuries until a period of increased seismic activity began in March 2021. Volcanologists have since warned that the region may be entering a new era of regular volcanic activity. The latest eruption was not expected to impact international air travel, RUV said. In contrast, a 2010 volcanic eruption in another part of Iceland caused widespread disruption after volcanic ash grounded flights across Europe. Iceland sits atop the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a tectonic boundary that separates the Eurasian and North American plates. It is home to 33 active volcanic systems, the most of any country in Europe.
Observer
7 days ago
- Observer
Iceland volcano erupts for ninth time since 2023
Reykjavik: A volcano erupted on Wednesday in Iceland's Reykjanes peninsula in the southwest, weather authorities said, the ninth eruption to hit the region since the end of 2023. Live video feeds showed lava spewing out of a fissure in the ground, with the Icelandic Met Office saying that it began just before 4:00 am (0400 GMT). Broadcaster RUV reported that the nearby fishing village Grindavik had been evacuated, as had the Blue Lagoon, Iceland's famed tourist spot. The previous eruption to hit the area was in April. When the first volcanic eruption first hit the area in late 2023, most of Grindavik's 4,000 residents were evacuated. Since then, almost all of the houses have been sold to the state, and most of the residents have left. Volcanoes on the Reykjanes peninsula had not erupted for eight centuries when in March 2021 a period of heightened seismic activity began. Volcanologists have warned in recent years that volcanic activity in the region had entered a new era. RUV said the latest eruption was not expected to impact international flights. A volcanic eruption in another part of Iceland in 2010 caused worldwide travel chaos as the ash spewed into the atmosphere sparked airspace closures in Europe. Iceland is home to 33 active volcanic systems, more than any other European country. It is located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a fault in the ocean floor that separates the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates and causes earthquakes and eruptions. Often referred to as a land of ice and fire, the North Atlantic island nation with its many glaciers and volcanoes has now experienced a dozen eruptions since geological systems on its Reykjanes peninsula reactivated in 2021. Magma forced through the earth's crust opened a massive fissure of length between 700 m and 1,000 m (0.4 miles and 0.6 miles), Iceland's meteorological office said, with the first signs of the eruption giving scant warning. "(It does) not threaten any infrastructure at this time," the office said in a statement. "Based on GPS measurements and deformation signals, it is likely that this was a relatively small eruption." Flights at Keflavik airport in the capital of Reykjavik were not affected, its web page showed. The Reykjanes eruptions have not yet posed a threat to Reykjavik, nor ejected large volumes of ash into the stratosphere, so air traffic has not been disrupted. Experts have said the eruptions in the area could recur for decades, or even centuries. The fissure eruptions, as the outbreaks are known, are characterised by lava flows emerging from long cracks, rather than from a central crater. AFP and Reuters
France 24
7 days ago
- France 24
Iceland volcano erupts for ninth time since 2023
Live video feeds showed lava spewing out of a fissure in the ground, with the Icelandic Met Office saying that it began just before 4:00 am (0400 GMT). The weather agency later in the day reported that the main fissure was estimated to be 2.4 kilometres (1.5 miles) long, and that a second smaller fissure, about 500 metres long, had opened up nearby. Due to high levels of gas pollution in the air, residents were advised to stay indoors. Broadcaster RUV reported that the nearby fishing village Grindavik had been evacuated, as had the Blue Lagoon, Iceland's famed tourist spot. Police Commissioner Margret Kristin Palsdottir, told the broadcaster that the evacuation of the some 100 people staying in the village had gone smoothly. Palsdottir also said they 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," Palsdottir said. Geophysicist Benedikt Ofeigsson told RUV that the eruption didn't seem as big as earlier ones and was in a good location as it wasn't near any infrastructure. The previous eruption to hit the area was in April, and a risk assessment published on Tuesday didn't expect another eruption until this autumn. When the first volcanic eruption first hit the area in late 2023, most of Grindavik's 4,000 residents were evacuated. Since then, almost all of the houses have been sold to the state, and most of the residents have left. Volcanoes on the Reykjanes peninsula had not erupted for eight centuries when in March 2021 a period of heightened seismic activity began. Volcanologists have warned in recent years that volcanic activity in the region had entered a new era. RUV said the latest eruption was not expected to impact international flights. A volcanic eruption in another part of Iceland in 2010 caused worldwide travel chaos as the ash spewed into the atmosphere sparked airspace closures in Europe. Iceland is home to 33 active volcanic systems, more than any other European country. It is located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a fault in the ocean floor that separates the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates and causes earthquakes and eruptions. © 2025 AFP
Time of India
7 days ago
- Time of India
Ninth volcano eruption rocks Southwestern Iceland, Blue Lagoon spa evacuated; timeline of recent volcanic activities
A volcano erupted in Iceland's Reykjanes peninsula in the southwest on Wednesday (July 16, 2025), prompting the evacuation of tourists at the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa. It is the ninth eruption to hit the region since the end of 2023. In the video feeds, lava was seen spewing out of a fissure in the ground. The Icelandic Met Office said that it began just before 4:00 am (0400 GMT), according to media reports. Volcanoes on the Reykjanes peninsula had not erupted for eight centuries when, in March 2021, a period of heightened seismic activity began. According to broadcaster RUV, the nearby fishing village of Grindavik had been evacuated, as had the Blue Lagoon, Iceland's famed tourist spot. Volcanoes on the Reykjanes peninsula had not erupted for eight centuries when, in March 2021, a period of heightened seismic activity began. The previous eruption to hit the area was in April. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Degree Technology Product Management Data Science Healthcare Leadership Finance PGDM Operations Management Design Thinking Others Project Management Cybersecurity Artificial Intelligence MBA MCA Management Data Science CXO others Digital Marketing healthcare Data Analytics Public Policy Skills you'll gain: Data-Driven Decision-Making Strategic Leadership and Transformation Global Business Acumen Comprehensive Business Expertise Duration: 2 Years University of Western Australia UWA Global MBA Starts on Jun 28, 2024 Get Details When the first volcanic eruption hit the area in late 2023, most of Grindavik's 4,000 residents were evacuated. Since then, almost all of the houses have been sold to the state, and most of the residents have left. Volcanologists have warned in recent years that volcanic activity in the region had entered a new era. RUV suggested that the latest eruption was not expected to impact international flights. A volcanic eruption in another part of Iceland in 2010 caused worldwide travel chaos as the ash spewed into the atmosphere, sparking airspace closures in Europe. Iceland is home to 33 active volcanic systems, more than any other European country. It is located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a fault in the ocean floor that separates the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates and causes earthquakes and eruptions. Live Events Several experts believe that the region, just south of the capital Reykjavik and home to 30,000 people, could experience so-called fissure eruptions repeatedly for several centuries. Here is a timeline of recent eruptions: March 19, 2021 Lava fountains erupted from a fissure of length 500 metres to 750 meters (547 yards to 820 yards) in the Fagradalsfjall system, where six months of continuing volcanic activity drew thousands of tourists. More than 40,000 earthquakes on the peninsula in the prior month were a huge jump from an annual figure of 1,000 to 3,000 since 2014. Aug. 3, 2022 The three-week eruption in the Fagradalsfjall system followed days of earthquake activity, with tourists and residents warned to stay away because of poisonous gases, while a "code red" order halted airplane flights. July 10, 2023 Lava emitted in the small eruption of the Litli Hrutur volcanic system, some 60 km (37 miles) from the capital, caused gas pollution, though it was far from densely populated areas. Dec. 18, 2023 An eruption in the Svartsengi system near Grindavik ejected smoke and lava across a wide area after weeks of intense earthquake activity. A crack roughly 4 km (2.5 miles) long in the ground snaked towards Grindavik. Jan. 14, 2024 The lava flow from the two-day eruption touched the outskirts of Grindavik, home to nearly 4,000, setting ablaze three houses. Feb. 8, 2024 The eruption lasted roughly a day, with a crack 3 km (2 miles) long spewing lava 80 m (262 ft) high, damaging pipelines, and cutting hot water supplies used to warm homes in freezing winter. The Blue Lagoon spa closed after lava covered a road. March 16, 2024 The 54-day eruption between the Hagafell and Store-Skogfell peaks was the peninsula's second-longest since 2021. In the same area as the previous eruption, it spewed smoke, molten rock and bright orange lava from a fissure estimated to be 3 km (2 miles) long. May 29, 2024 The 24-day eruption near Hagafell, which swathed a large area in solidified lava, was the most powerful since the volcanic system became active again three years before. Lava spewed to a height of 50 m (164 feet) with a fissure at least 3.4 km (2.1 miles) long. Aug. 22, 2024 The 16-day eruption at the Sundhnukar crater spewed glowing hot lava and smoke into the night sky around midnight, with a fissure length of about 3.9 km (2.4 miles), forcing evacuations nearby, though the lava did not head for Grindavik. Nov. 20, 2024 The midnight eruption at very short notice emerged from a fissure about 3 km (2 miles) in length, but Iceland's meteorological office estimated it to be much smaller than the previous one. April 1, 2025 The eruption south of the capital was the shortest in the recent series, lasting just over six hours. It broke through protective barriers close to the fishing town of Grindavik, triggering the evacuation of residents and visitors at the Blue Lagoon luxury spa. July 16, 2025 Magma forcing its way through the earth's crust opened a fissure, leading to an eruption the authorities called "relatively small" that did not immediately pose a threat to flights or infrastructure. Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
LBCI
7 days ago
- Climate
- LBCI
Iceland volcano erupts for ninth time since 2023
A volcano erupted on Wednesday in Iceland's Reykjanes peninsula in the southwest, weather authorities said, the ninth eruption to hit the region since the end of 2023. Live video feeds showed lava spewing out of a fissure in the ground, with the Icelandic Met Office saying that it began just before 4:00 am. Media reported that there was no impact on international flights.
