By Louise Rasmussen, Reuters
Molten lava is seen coming out of a fissure on the outskirts of the fishing village Grindavik in southwest Iceland, on 1 April 2025. Photo: Ael Kermarec / AFP
A volcano erupted to the south of Iceland's capital, spewing lava and smoke in a fiery display of orange and red that triggered the evacuation of tourists and residents, although air traffic continued as normal.
Referred to as a land of ice and fire for its many glaciers and volcanoes, the North Atlantic island nation has now seen 11 eruptions south of Reykjavik since 2021, when dormant geological systems reactivated after some 800 years.
"Warning: An eruption has begun," the Icelandic meteorological office said in a statement.
The outbreak on Tuesday (local time) penetrated protective barriers close to the Grindavik fishing town, triggering an evacuation of those residents who had returned following previous eruptions, although most houses have stood empty for over a year.
Molten lava is seen coming out of a fissure behind a greenhouse on the outskirts of the fishing village Grindavik in southwest Iceland, on 1 April 2025. Photo: Ael Kermarec / AFP
"There is lava coming within the barrier at the moment, but it's a very limited eruption so far," said Rikke Pedersen, head of the Nordic Volcanological Center.
Emergency services also evacuated the nearby Blue Lagoon luxury spa in the hours ahead of the eruption, as geologists had warned it was imminent.
Pedersen said the outbreak was similar in size to an eruption from January 2024, which spewed lava into Grindavik.
This Icelandic Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management Hand Out image shows molten lava coming out of a fissure on the outskirts of the fishing village Grindavik in southwest Iceland, on 1 April 2025. Photo: Icelandic Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management / AFP
The eruptions on the Reykjanes peninsula so far have not directly affected the capital city Reykjavik and have not caused significant dispersal of ash into the stratosphere, avoiding air traffic disruption.
Icelandic experts predict that the so-called fissure eruptions, characterised by lava flowing out of long cracks in the earth's crust rather than a single volcanic opening, could repeat themselves for decades, or even centuries.
The North Atlantic island, home to nearly 400,000 people, attracts thousands of tourists every year who come to explore its rugged nature, including geysers, hot springs and volcanoes.
Iceland sits astride the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates are pulling apart, and is largely covered by black lava fields, contrasted with glaciers and blankets of vibrant green moss.
-Reuters
