Iceland has been shaken by yet another volcanic eruption after lava spewed hundreds of feet into the air on Saturday night
A state of emergency has been declared once again after a fissure ripped open near the abandoned town of Grindavik. The Icelandic Met Office had warned of an increasing number of earthquakes in the area five minutes before the 8:20 pm eruption.
This is the fourth “alarming” volcanic eruption in three months. It sent fountains of lava spewing into the sky with no notice. The Icelandic Met Office reports the eruption is moving in a northwesterly direction.
The last eruption ended up destroying hot water pipes, leaving 20,000 residents without heating. Experts in the scientific community fear the long-dormant fault line running under the country has woken up and could now erupt for years to come.
Photos from the scene show the sky lit up in a spectacular explosion of colour as molten lava flows out from the volcano. The Government of Iceland has also released video footage showing the dramatic scene.
Grindavik is a fishing town in the Southern Peninsula district of Iceland. People on the outskirts of nearby Reykjavik have been taking pictures and selfies. Livestreams show fountains of rock soaring into the air.
The latest update from the country’s Met Office on Saturday evening says: “Lava appears to flow rapidly south towards the defences north of Grindavík. Also, lava is flowing west towards Grindavíkurvégur, just like what happened during the eruption on February 8.”
Authorities had warned for weeks of an imminent eruption. Iceland’s Civil Protection Agency said prior to the latest explosion: “Since October 24, scientists at the Icelandic Met Office have been monitoring a rise in seismic activity on the Reykjanes Peninsula, which may signal an impending volcanic eruption.”
It is impossible to predict exactly when a volcanic eruption will happen, says the agency. The Icelandic Met Office, the Department of Civil Protection, Emergency Management, and a team of scientists from the University of Iceland have been actively monitoring the situation and analyzing developments.
Iceland has more than 30 active volcanoes. They draw thousands of thrill-seeking tourists to the country every year.
The most famous eruption in recent years occurred in 2010 when Eyafjallajokull sent ash clouds spreading across much of Europe, disrupting tens of thousands of flights.
Icelandic authorities say they are highly prepared for such events, and Iceland has one of the world’s most effective volcanic preparedness measures. Iceland’s geoscientists are vastly experienced in dealing with volcanic emergencies
