Latest news with #ReykjanesPeninsula
CTV News
a day ago
- CTV News
Iceland engulfed by volcanic cloud
A group of visitors gather on a hill a few kilometers away to watch the two active craters, after a volcanic eruption around 6km north of Grindavik on the Reykjanes Peninsula, in Iceland, Saturday, July 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Marco di Marco) Reykjavik, Iceland -- Iceland experts on Monday blamed a lack of wind for a volcanic cloud that has lingered over much of the island since an eruption last week. Two craters of a volcano on the Reykjanes peninsula spewed out the sulphur-packed cloud on Wednesday. The thick haze has left the capital Reykjavik and the southwest of the country in a pollution red alert, the highest level in Iceland's monitoring system. Hylnur Arnason of the Icelandic Energy and Environment Agency said that volcanic eruptions normally cause air pollution, mainly from the sulphur dioxide that is emitted. The gas becomes sulfate in the atmosphere, creating a volcanic fog. 'It's completely misty in large parts of the country,' said Arnason. 'Usually in Iceland we have lots of wind, which would carry the pollution away, but right now we don't,' the expert added. 'Now it's kind of just sitting over the whole country.' Arnason said the gas was not toxic but could be an 'irritant.' The environment agency has recommended that vulnerable people should remain at home and take precautions against the pollution. The wind was expected to start strengthening again late Monday.
Yahoo
6 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
Bloomberg
6 days ago
- Bloomberg
Why Do Iceland's Volcanoes Keep Erupting, and How Dangerous Are They?
Repeated volcanic eruptions have rocked southwestern Iceland since December 2023, and the island's inhabitants are getting used to the sight of lava spewing near populated areas. For the wider world, the eruptions have rekindled memories of the Eyjafjallajokull explosion of 2010, when vast volcanic ash clouds grounded air traffic across Europe for weeks. Scientists say the recent bout of heightened volcanic activity in the country known as 'the land of fire and ice' may go on for centuries. Yes and no. While the country experiences a volcanic eruption every five years on average — of varying nature, size and scope — the current series of eruptions is something even Icelanders aren't used to. The ground has ripped open 12 times since 2021 in the Reykjanes Peninsula. Hardly any of the previous eruptions had taken place in or near inhabited areas. This time around, the fishing community of Grindavik, which was home to almost 3,700 people, has been devastated. The glow in the sky from lava gushing out of the ground is now sometimes visible to residents of the capital, Reykjavik.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Tourists evacuated after Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula hit by 9th eruption since 2023
Tourists and locals have been evacuated on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula after the twelfth volcanic eruption in the region since 2021. The eruption began around 4 am on Wednesday following an intense seismic swarm on the Reykjanes Peninsula, southwest of the capital, Reykjavik, Iceland's Met Office (IMO) said. Magma pushed up through the Earth's crust, opening a fissure near Sundhnúkur crater, thought to be between 700 and 1,000 metres long. It belched columns of smoke into the air, and dramatic lava flows can be seen in images of the eruption. On Wednesday evening, the IMO said that while the eruption at Sundhnúksgígar fissure continued, seismic activity had decreased since the morning. The biggest threat to inhabited areas is now from gas emissions and wildfires, which are contributing to local air pollution. Related Lava hotlines and captivating infernos: Inside the volatile world of volcano tourism in Iceland It comes after an eruption in April this year breached protective barriers near the fishing town of Grindavik, causing emergency services to evacuate residents and tourists staying at the Blue Lagoon Spa. Tourists and residents evacuated Lava is flowing to the southeast, meaning the eruption doesn't threaten any infrastructure at this time, the IMO said in a statement, and there is currently no threat to populated areas. 'Based on GPS measurements and deformation signals, it is likely that this was a relatively small eruption.' Despite this, civil defence teams evacuated people from nearby sites as a precaution. Around 100 residents were cleared from the town of Grindavík. Due to ongoing volcanic activity, the town has remained mostly deserted since its nearly 4,000 residents were evacuated in 2023. Tourists were also evacuated from a campsite in Grindavík and the Blue Lagoon - a five-star hotel resort famous for its geothermal spa, according to Iceland's public broadcaster RUV. Margrét Kristín Pálsdóttir, 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. The police commissioner also added that some tourists had been prevented 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." Residents of Grindavík were allowed back into the town on Wednesday evening. The Blue Lagoon and Northern Light Inn have reopened, but tourists and the general public are not permitted to enter Grindavík. Have flights been impacted by the eruption? Flights at the nearby Keflavik airport in the capital of Reykjavik have not been impacted by the volcanic eruption. With 33 active volcanic systems, Iceland is often referred to as the land of ice and fire. It has recorded a dozen volcanic eruptions since geological systems on its Reykjanes Peninsula reactivated four years ago after an 800-year dormancy. Experts say these eruptions in the area could continue for decades or even centuries as part of a new volcanic cycle. Related Air traffic strikes and staffing gaps: Can the EU fix Europe's summer of travel chaos? Unlike the 2010 eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which grounded planes across Northern Europe for almost a week, this recent string of eruptions on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula has not ejected large volumes of ash into the stratosphere. This means that air traffic hasn't been disrupted. Volcanic ash is dangerous for aeroplanes because it can cause engine failure and damage to various important aircraft components. Solve the daily Crossword
The National
6 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
