Iceland Volcano Eruption Near Grindavik Prompts Closure of Blue Lagoon

A volcano in southwestern Iceland erupted on Tuesday, endangering the city of Grindavik and prompting the closure of the popular Blue Lagoon vacationer vacation spot. It was the eleventh eruption to shake the nation’s Reykjanes Peninsula since 2021 as Iceland faces a interval of intense geological exercise.

Aerial video launched by the authorities confirmed lava snaking alongside the bottom as white clouds billowed into the air after the eruption, which started at 9:45 a.m.

Grindavik, a small fishing village about 25 miles southwest of the capital, Reykjavik, has been threatened by eight of the 11 eruptions in recent times. It has additionally been repeatedly evacuated, together with on Tuesday, the city’s hearth chief, Einar Jonsson, stated in an interview.

Emergency alarms blared within the city, and officers went door to door to about 40 homes that had been registered as occupied, in line with Mr. Jonsson. He stated that though a number of residents initially resisted, officers had declared the city empty of civilians by midday.

A fissure had grown to about three-quarters of a mile lengthy by about 12:30 p.m., Iceland’s meteorological workplace stated. It gave the impression to be rising southward, the workplace stated, and Grindavik was in its path.

A lot stays unsure.

Magnus Gudmundsson, a geophysicist, stated he had seen fountains of lava spewing excessive into the realm as he flew over the fissure on Tuesday morning, though he stated that by noon it appeared that lava wouldn’t attain Grindavik. “Time can only tell,” he stated.

Iceland has tried to make use of infrastructure to guard the city: Since 2023, the federal government has constructed a collection of protecting boundaries, produced from boulders the scale of small vehicles, to attempt to redirect lava away from Grindavik and a close-by geothermal energy station.

However boundaries can do solely a lot. A photograph shared by the meteorological workplace confirmed the fissure reaching by the boundaries like a prepare breaking by a wall. By midmorning, it stated, one other fissure had opened between the boundaries and the city.

For some residents, the disruptions had been all too acquainted.

Thormar Omarsson, who owns a pizzeria within the space, stated he was about to drive to work on Tuesday when he heard that an eruption was predicted. His enterprise is within the heart of Grindavik, so he was unable to open it on Tuesday.

He used to dwell in Grindavik however bought his home in August after repeated evacuations. He now lives in close by Keflavik, near the nation’s predominant worldwide airport, which said that flights had not been affected by the eruption.

“We have fridges full of food,” Mr. Omarsson stated, fretting about his pizzeria. “I hope we can reopen soon.”