A volcano on the Reykjanes peninsula in southwestern Iceland erupted for the second consecutive day on Friday, spewing lava and smoke and raising concerns about pollution. The eruption, which began on Thursday, has already led to the evacuation of the nearby Blue Lagoon spa resort.
Fountains of glowing molten rock illuminated the night sky during the initial eruption, creating a dramatic and dangerous scene. According to Rikke Pedersen, head of the Nordic Volcanological Centre, while the intensity of the volcanic activity has decreased since the eruption’s peak, the duration of the event remains uncertain. “We have a quite intense fountaining and high output in the beginning and it rapidly declines, but that doesn’t tell us anything about how long it will last,” Pedersen explained.
The Icelandic meteorological office has issued warnings about potential gas pollution, which could be carried by wind towards the south and southeast. As a precaution, the Blue Lagoon spa, known for its geothermal outdoor pools, was evacuated late Thursday. The spa remains closed as of Friday, affecting around 1,300 guests and staff.
Real estate broker Dennis Murphy from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, recounted his experience: “We just went there as tourists looking for a good day. The next thing you know, the ground is exploding right next to us,” he said. Murphy described the scene as chaotic, with staff hastily gathering belongings and urging visitors to evacuate. “There was definitely a sense of urgency as we were trying to get out of there,” he added.
The eruption has seen lava flow at rates of up to 2,000 cubic meters (70,600 cubic feet) per second, comparable to the last eruption in May. The fissure in the volcano has expanded to 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) from 3.9 kilometers late Thursday. Fortunately, the nearby fishing town of Grindavik, previously affected by lava flows and earthquakes, has not been directly impacted by the current eruption.
Despite the volcanic activity, air traffic at Keflavik Airport, the capital’s main international gateway, has not been disrupted, according to the airport’s website.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as the eruption evolves and potential impacts on nearby areas are assessed.
