Iceland authorities declare emergency as volcano erupts, lava flows

Another volcanic eruption has started for the fifth time since December on the Reykjanes peninsula in southwestern Iceland, the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) said on Wednesday.

Shortly after authorities evacuated the nearby town of Grindavik. IMO reported that an eruption has started near Sundhnuksgigar, north of Grindavik.

Following an earthquake in the area, a state of emergency had been declared, leading to the evacuation of the famous geothermal Blue Lagoon spa and the small fishing town of Grindavik, according to Icelandic Public Broadcaster RUV.

A volcano spews lava and smoke as it erupts near Grindavik, on Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland, May 29, 2024. Iceland Civil Protection/Handout via REUTERS

New data by IMO has registered a clear increase in seismic activity in recent hours near Sundhnuksgigar on the Reykjanes peninsula around 11:40 GMT.

Volcanologist Benedikt Ofeigsson told RUV that the fissure is currently longer than “2.5km (1.5 miles)” in length and continuing to grow.

The lava jets are reaching a height of “at least 50 metres and the length of the crater appears to be 2.5km and still growing" IMO said in a statement.

However, the coast guard helicopter is surveying the area to get a more precise estimation of the eruption's size and location, it said.

Prior to the latest event, similar eruptions happened in the country in January, February and March with authorities warning of renewed volcanic activity in the Reykjanes Peninsula, just south of the capital Reykjavik.

In the past week the meteorological office recorded around 400 earthquakes in the volcano's crater.

Thumbnail courtesy of Iceland Civil Protection/Handout via REUTERS.