Iceland declares ‘state of emergency’ after fourth volcanic eruption since Dec

The skyline of Reykjavik is against the backdrop of orange coloured sky due to molten lava flowing out from a fissure on the Reykjanes peninsula north of the evacuated town of Grindavik, western Iceland on March 16, 2024. — AFP

A fourth volcanic eruption since December in Iceland has forced the state authorities to declare a “state of emergency” in the area, Fox News reported.

The volcanic eruption began between Stora Skogfell and Hagafell in the Reykjanes Peninsula.

The residents of the towns nearby had been evacuated on November 10.

Due to lava spewing, countries top tourist destination the Blue Lagoon luxury geothermal spa has shut down, a statement issued on their website said: “We have evacuated and temporarily closed all our operational units. We will remain closed through Sunday, March 17.”

According to the Icelandic Met Office (IMO) the eruption occurred in the same place where the previous eruption had happened on February 8. The lava is slowly descending near the fishing village of Grindavik.

The images and videos captured by Iceland’s Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management show that the length of the fissure was estimated to be 2.9 kilometres (1.8 miles).

The IMO said “From initial assessments of web camera imagery and aerial photographs from the helicopter flight, the eruption is thought to be the largest (in terms of magma discharge) of the three previous fissure eruptions from the Sundhnukur crater row.”

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