Status: 24.12.2023, 05:01 a.m.
By: Moritz Bletzinger, Karolin Schäfer
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It was feared for a long time, but now a volcano has erupted in Iceland. Pictures and videos show glowing lava gushing out of a four-kilometre-long crack.
Update from 20 December, 8.30 a.m.: The activity of the volcanic eruption in Iceland at Sundhnúk had subsided on Wednesday morning and was stable, the Icelandic broadcaster RUV reported. However, due to the heavy snowfall, the view of the webcams is difficult, Minney Sigurðardóttir, an expert on natural disasters, told the broadcaster.
Of the four-kilometre-long crack at the beginning of the eruption, only a third is still active. Nevertheless, the security risk in the immediate vicinity of Grindavík is still considered high. The fishing village had previously been evacuated. Infrastructure such as heating pipes and electrical wiring may be at risk. However, built-up areas are not in danger according to the current status. Since midnight, 24 earthquakes have also been recorded near the eruption region.
A close-up view of the southern active segment of the original fissure of an active volcano at Grindavik on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula. © Marco Di Marco/dpa
Volcano erupts in Iceland: Police warn of toxic gases
Update from December 19, 20:36 p.m.: Southwest of the Icelandic capital Reykjavik, the earth spewed fire last night. During the night, the long fissure formed, from which about 100 to 200 cubic meters of lava per second flowed.
Hjördís Gudmundsdóttir of the Icelandic Civil Protection Agency called on Icelanders and tourists to stay away from the volcanic area during the current eruption. Speaking on Icelandic television, she said she could well understand that people wanted to see the natural spectacle. However, the volcano is large and very active compared to the last eruption. The police warned on Facebook of toxic gases that could escape in the volcanic area. According to the Meteorological Institute of Iceland, these gases could blow towards Reykjavík during the night to Wednesday and affect the air quality there.
In the meantime, the volcanic eruption near Grindavík has decreased in strength, as geoscientist Magnús Tumi Gudmundsson told broadcaster RÚV on Tuesday morning. However, a considerable amount of lava continues to flow. Gudmundsson explained on television that just a few hours after the start of the eruption north of Grindavík, about twice as much lava had escaped as during the most recent volcanic eruption in the summer of this year.
Update from December 19, 11:53 a.m.: The situation in Iceland seems to be under control. Rescue workers are on standby, but have not been needed so far. The power supply in Suðurnesjalína is also apparently not endangered, writes RUV. Even Icelandair flights remained unaffected.
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Volcano tears four-kilometre-long fissure – eruption in Iceland could last over a week
Update from December 19, 10:54 a.m.: The lava fountains splash up to 120 meters high over Iceland. Nevertheless, there is good news for Grindavík, the lava does not flow towards the port city. The Coast Guard was able to observe this during a helicopter flight, says meteorologist Björn Oddson to RUV.
He describes: "What we saw is a four-kilometre-long fissure located at the old crater sequence." This is the ideal place for the crack. Nevertheless, the situation must be closely monitored, because it is possible that the rift will widen to the south.
But how long will the state of emergency in Iceland last? Volcanologist Ármann Höskuldsson says: "The eruption could last from a week to ten days." Normally, the outbreak will weaken but not stop during the course of today.
First reported on 19 December, 7.09 a.m.: Reykjavik – For weeks, there were rumblings underground in Iceland. Hundreds of earthquakes heralded a possible volcanic eruption, and now the time had come. A volcano erupted on the Reykjanes Peninsula late Monday evening (18 December).
Volcanic eruption in Iceland: Four-kilometre-long crack near fishing village
According to the Icelandic Meteorological Agency, the eruption began north of the village of Grindavík. Already at the beginning of November, the village with thousands of inhabitants was evacuated, under which an underground magma tunnel also runs. Huge cracks in the ground had indicated this.
The eruption was located at the Sundhnjúka crater. About an hour earlier, numerous earthquakes are said to have preceded the magma eruption, the Icelandic broadcaster RUV reported. Geophysicist Benedikt Ófeigsson had expected a longer warning time and therefore spoke of a "worst-case scenario" to the broadcaster.
Initially, experts had feared that the lava could reach the fishing village. In the meantime, however, the all-clear has been given, geophysicist Björn Oddson told RUV after a briefing of the civil protection. "What we saw is a four-kilometer crack," it added. However, it is currently necessary to observe whether this could expand further south.
Volcano erupts in Iceland: pictures and videos show "dangerous moment"
There is also currently no lava flowing in the direction of the Svartsengi geothermal power plant near Grindavík, which supplies electricity to the main airport Keflavik and the region in the south, said volcanologist Ármann Höskuldsson. The infrastructure is therefore not in danger for the time being. Höskuldsson estimates that the eruption could last from a week to 10 days.
It is not yet clear how much damage the volcanic eruption will ultimately cause, Iceland's President Gudni Jóhannesson wrote on Facebook on Tuesday night (19 December). He asked the people on the ground to follow all the recommendations of the emergency services "at this dangerous moment".
Pictures and videos of the natural spectacle are already piling up on social media. The orange-red glowing lava fountain gushes out of an impressive crack and illuminates the night sky. However, the police pointed out not to approach the volcano for safety reasons.
Series of earthquakes announces volcanic eruption in Iceland: fishing village evacuated for safety reasons
When the first earthquakes weeks ago already hinted at a possible volcanic eruption in Iceland, the fishing village of Grindavík was evacuated. Around 4000 people were brought to safety. The tourist attraction Blue Lagoon, which is only about 40 kilometers southwest of the capital Reykjavik, had only reopened at the weekend after a temporary closure.
At the time of the eruption, however, no visitor is said to have been here. The residents of Grindavík were able to enter their homes again during the day, but they were not allowed to return completely. Only recently, Mount Etna had erupted in Italy. Researchers also fear an eruption of another supervolcano near Naples. (kas/dpa)