Latest news New volcanic eruption in Iceland

The earth has opened up again in Iceland.

The new volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula southwest of the capital Reykjavik began shortly before midnight (CET), according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office. Since then, glowing red lava has once again been gushing out of an elongated fissure in the earth. According to the authority, the eruption fissure was an estimated three kilometers long.

This time, the eruption had not announced itself to the same extent as previous eruptions in the region. Unlike previous natural spectacles, this time there was no series of strong earthquakes lasting days or even weeks before the eruption. A small earthquake swarm and the first signs of underground magma influence were recorded just three quarters of an hour before the eruption began.

Eruption significantly smaller than the last one

In the early morning, the volcanic activity appeared to have already reached its peak. According to the weather office, there was nothing to suggest that it would increase further. The authority said that the eruption was significantly smaller than the last one that began in the area three months ago.

Meanwhile, the lava flowed both to the east and to the west. At the time, it was about 500 meters away from an important road in the region, Grindavíkurvegur. So far, it has not flowed towards the fishing village of Grindavík, which was evacuated again a few kilometers to the south.

SDA