Tourists have been flocking to catch a glimpse of the new 4 km fissure that has opened up on the Reykjanes Peninsula.
ADVERTISEMENTA volcano in Iceland has erupted for the sixth time in three months, spewing red lava through a 4 kilometre fissure on the Reykjanes Peninsula.
The eruption began shortly after 9 pm local time (11 pm CEST) last night (22 August) following a series of strong earthquakes and within the hour, a 4-kilometre fissure cut through the Sundhnúkur crater.
Halldór Björnsson, head of weather and climate at the Norwegian Meteorological Agency, told the Icelandic news portal Vísir that unlike previous eruptions, the lava flow is not heading for the town of Grindavik that was largely evacuated in December when the volcano came to life after being dormant for 800 years.
Roads around the volcano have been closed to protect people from toxic gas fumes.
Visitors have been evacuated from the Blue Lagoon thermal spa, one of Iceland’s top tourist attractions, and it remains closed.
Despite lying just 20 km north of the eruption site, Keflavik International Airport - Iceland's main international airport - remains open and flights are still arriving and departing.
If you are planning on travelling to or from the affected area, here are the full details on advice from European governments and airlines.
How long will Iceland's volcano eruption last?
The Icelandic Meteorological Office updated the public on the Reykjanes volcano in the early hours of this morning.
This eruption does not appear to be as intense as recent activity.
In a statement they said, "The seismicity is fairly stable, and the main activity is at the northern end of the eruptive fissure. It is therefore unlikely that the fissure will extend to the south. It cannot be ruled out that the eruptive fissure could extend to the north."
Magnús Tuma Guðmundsson, a geophysicist who flew over the eruption told the website that “if this continues like this, Grindavík is not in danger. Of course, we don’t know what will happen in the near future, but it is likely that this has reached its peak and then it will start to subside like the other eruptions.”
Before the recent eruptions, the Svartsengi volcanic system north of Grindavik had been dormant for around 780 years. The volcano is just a few kilometres west of Fagradalsfjall, which was dormant for 6,000 years before flaring to life in March 2021.
Grindavik: Has the local town been evacuated?
Yes, Grindavik has, once again, been evacuated.
The Grindavik community was previously evacuated in December following a series of earthquakes that opened large cracks in the earth between the town and Sýlingarfell, a small mountain to the north.
Since then, Grindavik has been largely deserted of residents.
ADVERTISEMENTThe repeated volcanic eruptions close to Grindavík, a town of 3,800 people about 50 kilometres southwest of the capital Reykjavik, have damaged infrastructure and property and forced many residents to relocate to guarantee their safety.
The few who had returned were forced out once again Thursday night as strong winds blew plumes of toxic gas over the town.
Iceland's volcano eruption 'is not a tourist attraction'
Late last night, tourists gathered to see the majestic volcano erupting.
"We just thought that it was the northern lights," said Mahnoor Ali, visiting from Maryland in the US. "It’s like the coolest thing I’ve seen in my whole life, honestly.”
ADVERTISEMENTFriends Ameerul Awalludin from Malaysia and Shohei Miyamito from Japan were with an Icelandic friend when they heard the news and quickly rushed to near the eruption.
“We have like a volcano as well," said Miyamito, but “we cannot see lava like this.”
However in the past, authorities have warned visitors to stay away from Reykjanes.
“This is not a tourist attraction and you must watch it from a great distance," Vidir Reynisson, head of Iceland’s Civil Protection and Emergency Management, told national broadcaster RUV.
ADVERTISEMENT
Have flights to Iceland been cancelled?
Despite concerns over the impact the eruption will have on travel, nearby Keflavik Airport remains operational.
In an update, the airport said: "Recent volcanic activity in Iceland has not disrupted air travel. Flights to and from Iceland are operating normally despite the ongoing eruption.
Icelandic airport operator ISAVIA advises passengers to monitor flight information here.
Volcanic eruptions can pose a serious hazard to air travel as ash released into the atmosphere can cause jet engines to fail, damage flight control systems and reduce visibility.
ADVERTISEMENTHowever, the airport has previously said they are used to volcanic activity and well-prepared to deal with it without needing to close the airport.
Iceland's Civil Protection and Emergency Management said, "Iceland is no stranger to volcanic activity and experiences an average volcanic event every five years.
Icelandic authorities and the public are highly prepared for such events, and Iceland has one of the world’s most effective volcanic preparedness measures.
Iceland’s geoscientists possess vast experience in dealing with volcanic activities."
ADVERTISEMENT
A major eruption in Iceland in April 2010 caused widespread disruption to air travel between Europe and North America. The quarter of a billion cubic metres of volcanic ash it ejected into the air led to more than 100,000 flights being cancelled over an eight-day period.
Though there had been fears of a repeat, Eyjafjallajokull volcano erupted under circumstances that contributed to the immense size of its ash cloud. A glacier on top of it caused meltwater to rapidly cool the lava, creating tiny particles which were launched into the air by the steam produced in the eruption. These were then carried on the wind towards Europe.
These has been no impact on air travel during all of the recent eruptions.
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is also better prepared for a major volcanic ash event.
ADVERTISEMENT"In the event of an eruption and development of an ash cloud, the agency will work with other aviation actors to assess the impact for aviation and make recommendations accordingly," a statement on the EASA's website from last year reads.
Is it safe to travel to Iceland?
Travellers are advised to stay away from Grindavik and respect local restrictions. Visit the Icelandic Met Office and Safe Travel Iceland for the latest advice.
Otherwise, Iceland is currently a safe destination.
Keflavik International Airport and the road to it is unaffected and operating normally.
ADVERTISEMENTCountries have not issued a ‘no-go’ travel warning for Iceland meaning that airlines and holiday companies are operating as normal and travellers who cancel their bookings have no automatic right to a refund.
During a previous eruption Jonathan Frankham, general manager of travel insurance company World Nomads, said: “For those concerned about travel insurance coverage, and whether cancelling a trip is best, we’d advise travellers to exercise common sense and travel wisely," says
"It’s important to note that policies purchased after the earthquakes and consequential volcanic eruption became a 'known event' are unlikely to be covered, but we recommend checking your policy wording for exact details."
He advised tourists to contact their airline or travel provider for assistance and the latest information.
ADVERTISEMENTIs the Blue Lagoon open?
The Blue Lagoon geothermal spa - one of Iceland’s biggest tourist attractions - was evacuated when the volcanic eruption began.
The spa is still closed today (23 August), according to the official website, and the situation will be reassessed today to decide when the attraction can reopen safely.
It says: "Due to a volcanic eruption that commenced in Sundhnúksgígar on August 22, we took the precautionary measure of evacuating and temporarily closing all our operational units.
Blue Lagoon will be closed tomorrow, Friday, August 23,** at which time the situation will be reassessed."
ADVERTISEMENTBlue Lagoon management said that all customers with bookings would be contacted, and anyone wishing to change or cancel their booking can do so on the official website.
Watch the video above to see the Reykjanes volcano in action.
