1 / 8A volcano began erupting in southwestern Iceland on Tuesday, April 1, just hours after authorities evacuated a nearby community and the Blue Lagoon spa. The eruption sent flames and smoke into the air as a volcanic fissure opened near the town of Grindavik, where around 40 homes had been evacuated, the Associated Press (AP) reported citing national broadcaster RUV. The community, located on the Reykjanes Peninsula, was largely evacuated a year ago when the volcano became active after lying dormant for 800 years. (Image: AP)
2 / 8According to Reuters, the eruption occurred south of Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik, with lava and smoke creating a fiery display. The Icelandic Meteorological Office issued a statement confirming the event: “Warning: An eruption has begun.” (Image: AP)
3 / 8Webcams showed molten rock spewing toward Grindavik. Sirens were activated, and emergency services also evacuated the nearby Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, one of Iceland’s biggest tourist attractions, in the hours leading up to the eruption after geologists warned it was imminent. (Image: AP)
4 / 8“There is lava coming within the barrier at the moment, but it’s a very limited eruption so far,” said Rikke Pedersen, head of the Nordic Volcanological Center, in comments reported by Reuters. Pedersen also noted that the outbreak resembled a January 2024 eruption that sent lava into Grindavik. (Image: AP)
5 / 8The Icelandic Met Office reported that the fissure is now approximately 500 meters (yards) long and has broken through a protective barrier north of Grindavik. The fissure continues to expand, and officials have not ruled out the possibility that it could extend further south. Magma flow began at about 6:30 am local time (0630 GMT), accompanied by an intense earthquake swarm similar to previous eruptions. (Image: AP)
6 / 8According to Reuters, this marks the 11th eruption south of Reykjavik since 2021, when dormant geological systems reactivated after centuries of inactivity. Experts predict that these fissure eruptions could persist for decades or even centuries. (Image: AP)
7 / 8Unlike the 2010 Eyjafjallajokull eruption, which sent large ash clouds into the atmosphere and disrupted trans-Atlantic air travel for months, the latest eruptions on the Reykjanes Peninsula have not caused significant ash dispersal and have not affected air traffic, Reuters reported. (Image: Reuters)
8 / 8Iceland sits on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates are pulling apart. The country, often referred to as the “land of ice and fire,” is home to numerous volcanoes, glaciers, geysers, and lava fields that attract thousands of tourists each year. (Image: AP)
