Volcano erupts on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula

A volcanic eruption has occurred near the town of Grindavik, located on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula.

ORANGE LAVA SEEN SPEWING

This is the fifth volcanic eruption in Iceland since 2021. The most recent volcanic eruption occurred on December 18 in the same region, southwest of the capital, Reykjavik. The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) stated that the eruption began at 8:00 a.m. Footage broadcast by Icelandic media showed orange lava spewing at sunrise.

Barriers made of earth and rock were being constructed to prevent lava from reaching the town. However, following the latest eruption, the lava breached these barriers. The Icelandic Meteorological Office nevertheless announced that these barriers have prevented most of the lava from reaching the town.

SOME HOUSES IN THE TOWN CAUGHT FIRE

According to the latest information, some houses in the town have caught fire due to the lava. According to a report by the public broadcaster RUV, residents were evacuated in the early hours of the morning as seismic activity intensified throughout the night. Most of Grindavik's 4,000 residents had been evacuated on November 11 as a precaution following warnings from scientists regarding seismic activity beneath the town.

According to local authorities, approximately 100 people had returned to their homes before the new evacuation order was issued on Saturday.

Icelandic President Gudni Johannesson announced this morning following the volcanic eruption that no citizens were in "mortal danger." Authorities are also closely monitoring the Svartsengi Geothermal Power Plant in the region, which provides electricity and water to the 30,000 residents of the Reykjanes Peninsula.

A wall has been under construction since November to protect the facility.

Until March 2021, there had not been any eruptions on the Reykjanes Peninsula, where Grindavik is also located, for eight centuries.