Iceland evacuates Blue Lagoon as Volcano Erupts for Eighth Time Since 2023

File Source: Euro

Iceland evacuated the town of Grindavik and the popular Blue Lagoon spa on Tuesday as a volcano erupted, marking the eighth eruption in the region since late 2023.

The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) confirmed that “an eruption has started on the Sundhnuksgigar Crater Row” north of Grindavik, a fishing village on the Reykjanes Peninsula.

Authorities ordered evacuations after magma flows and a series of small earthquakes signaled an imminent eruption. Residents of about 40 homes in Grindavik, located 53 km (33 miles) from the capital, Reykjavik, were told to leave. The town had already been largely evacuated a year ago when the volcano, dormant for 800 years, became active again. The nearby Blue Lagoon luxury spa was also cleared, according to local reports.

The eruption was preceded by an intense storm of earthquakes, similar to those seen before previous volcanic activity, the IMO said. Despite ten eruptions occurring south of Reykjavik since 2021, none have directly impacted the capital or disrupted air traffic by sending ash into the stratosphere.

Known as the land of ice and fire, Iceland’s dramatic landscape is shaped by its many glaciers and active volcanoes.