Iceland's Fifth Volcanic Eruption Since December Threatens Grindavik and Blue Lagoon Spa

A volcano in southwestern Iceland erupted for the fifth time since December on Wednesday, spewing 165-foot-high lava that threatened the coastal town of Grindavik and led to the evacuation of the popular Blue Lagoon geothermal spa.

The eruption began in the early afternoon following a series of earthquakes north of Grindavik. The lava shot 165 feet into the sky from a fissure that grew to 2.1 miles in length, making it the area's most vigorous eruption so far.

Why this matters: This volcanic eruption in Iceland has broader implications for the environment and global air travel. The eruption's impact on local infrastructure and potential disruption to air travel could have significant consequences for the region and beyond.

Barriers built to protect Grindavik deflected the flowing lava, which cut off two of the three roads leading to town and was close to reaching the third. Workers and anyone still in town were ordered to leave, and the Blue Lagoon thermal spa was evacuated before the eruption began.

Grindavik Mayor Fannar Jónasson expressed concern over the volume of lava moving towards the town, stating, "It's a much larger volume that's on the move right now headed for town. The lava has already conquered (a lot)."

A dark plume of ash boiled up over the crater from an explosive interaction of magma hitting groundwater, but it did not pose an immediate threat to aviation. Scientists were closely monitoring the situation to ensure the safety of the surrounding area.

Grindavik, which is about 30 miles southwest of Iceland's capital, Reykjavik, has been threatened since a swarm of earthquakes in November forced an evacuation in advance of the initial December 18 eruption. The area is part of the Svartsengi volcanic system, which was dormant for nearly 800 years before reawakening.

Iceland, which sits above a volcanic hot spot in the North Atlantic, sees regular eruptions and is experienced at dealing with them. The most disruptive eruption in recent times was the 2010 eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which spewed huge clouds of ash into the atmosphere and led to widespread airspace closures over Europe.

The eruption on February 8 engulfed a pipeline, cutting off heat and hot water to thousands of people, and subsequent eruptions have continued to pose challenges for local infrastructure and safety.

The situation continues to unfold, authorities remain vigilant, monitoring the volcanic activity and ensuring the safety of residents and visitors in the affected areas.

Key Takeaways

• Iceland's volcano erupts for 5th time since December, spewing 165-foot-high lava.
• Grindavik town and Blue Lagoon geothermal spa evacuated due to lava threat.
• Eruption could disrupt air travel and impact local infrastructure.
• Volcano's lava flow is the most vigorous so far, with a 2.1-mile-long fissure.
• Authorities closely monitoring situation to ensure safety of residents and visitors.