- Title: TIMELINE: Iceland sees string of volcanic eruptions in the last four months
- Date: 19th March 2024
- Summary: Even though the probability of a volcanic eruption remained high despite a decrease in seismic activity in the southwestern part of the country, the Icelandic Meteorological Institute said in a statement on November 14. Seismic activity and underground lava flows intensified on the Reykjanes peninsula near the capital Reykjavik over the weekend, prompting authorities to ev
- Embargoed: 2nd April 2024 15:01
- Keywords: Eruption Grindavik Iceland Lava Natural disaster Reykjavik Volcano
- Location: VARIOUS
- City: VARIOUS
- Country: Iceland
- Topics: Disaster/Accidents,Europe,Earthquakes/Volcanoes/Tsunami
- Reuters ID: LVA001901919032024RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS FOOTAGE THAT WAS ORIGINALLY 4:3
Iceland's Reykjanes peninsula has seen a string of volcanic eruptions since 2021 when geological systems dormant for around 800 years became active again.
Experts say the region, just south of the capital Reykjavik and home to 30,000 people, could experience so-called fissure eruptions repeatedly for several centuries.
The latest eruption took place between the Hagafell and Stora-Skogfell peaks on March 16, 2024, in the same area as the last one the previous month, with smoke, molten rock and bright orange lava spewing from an estimated 3 km (2 mile) fissure.
Residents from the nearby fishing town of Grindavik who had returned from the previous evacuation left again immediately. The Blue Lagoon luxury geothermal spa again shut its doors.
Eruption on February 8, 2024, lasted roughly a day, with lava spewing 80 meters (260 feet) high from a 3 km crack.
Lava flows damaged pipelines after which hot water supply used to warm homes was cut off during freezing winter temperatures. The Blue Lagoon closed after lava covered a road.
A two-day eruption happened on January 14, 2023, and the lava flow reached the outskirts of Grindavik, home to nearly 4,000 inhabitants, setting three houses alight.
An eruption in the Svartsengi volcanic system near Grindavik on December 18, 2023, sent lava and smoke across a wide area after weeks of intense earthquake activity. A roughly 4 km (2.5 mile) long crack in the ground stretched towards Grindavik.
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