On Tuesday, Iceland evacuated the town of Grindavik and the nearby Blue Lagoon due to a volcano eruption there — the eighth time the region has been impacted by volcanic activity since the end of 2023.

The Icelandic Meteorological Office confirmed that an eruption had begun at the Sundhnuksgigar Crater Row north of Grindavik, a small fishing village. Authorities initiated the evacuations early Tuesday morning after detecting magma flows and an increase in small earthquakes, suggesting that the volcano was about to erupt.

Some 40 homes in Grindavik, located 53 km from the capital Reykjavik, were emptied as magma flows were identified. The town had previously experienced a large-scale evacuation about a year ago when the volcano, which had been dormant for 800 years, erupted again. Adjacent to Grindavik, the luxury spa known as the Blue Lagoon was also being evacuated.

In addition to the magma flow, there was a significant storm of earthquakes, a common occurrence before such volcanic events, according to the Met Office.

Despite the 10 eruptions that have taken place on the Reykjanes Peninsula since 2021, none have directly affected Reykjavik or disrupted air travel by sending ash into the stratosphere. Iceland, with its numerous glaciers and volcanoes, is known as a land of ice and fire.

Edited by: Zac Crellin

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/iceland-evacuates-blue-lagoon-amid-volcano-eruption/a-72103749?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf