Volcanic eruption in Iceland, the seventh in a year

A volcano erupted overnight from Wednesday to Thursday on the Reykjanes peninsula in southwest Iceland, the seventh since last December, meteorological services announced.

“An eruption began at Sundhnúkagígar, near Stóra Skógfell at 11:14 p.m. GMT” (and local) on Wednesday, the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) said in a statement.

Broadcast live, images show lava gushing from a long fissure, the extent of which has not yet been determined.

Questioned by public radio RAS2, a specialist from the Icelandic Meteorological Office Benedikt Ófeigsson clarified that no infrastructure was currently threatened.

A Civil Protection helicopter will fly over the area with scientists to give a first estimate of the size of the eruption.

The lava flows are not going in the direction of Grindavík, which was being evacuated just like the Blue Lagoon hotels, whose pools are closed at this time.

This is the seventh eruption in the region since December, the last dating from the end of August, on the same Reykjanes peninsula, where Reykjavik international airport is located.

The Reykjanes Peninsula had not experienced an eruption for eight centuries until March 2021. Others took place in August 2022 as well as in July and December 2023. Volcanologists have warned that the seismic activity of the region had entered a new era.

Iceland is home to 33 active volcanic systems, more than any other European country.