Southwest Iceland was once again shaken by fiery seismic activity early Wednesday as a volcano erupted on the Reykjanes Peninsula–the 12th eruption in the region since 2021, marking yet another chapter in what experts are calling a long-term volcanic reawakening.
The eruption, which began just after 4 a.m. following an intense seismic swarm, forced the evacuation of the famed Blue Lagoon geothermal spa and the nearby town of Grindavik. Magma burst through a newly formed fissure measuring between 0.4 and 0.6 miles in length, unleashing glowing rivers of lava that lit up the early morning sky.
“This is now the twelfth volcanic event in four years on Reykjanes, a clear sign that this once-dormant volcanic zone is entering a prolonged period of activity,” said Iceland’s Meteorological Office. Scientists believe these eruptions could continue intermittently for decades–or longer
Authorities moved swiftly to clear the area. “In an abundance of caution, the Blue Lagoon and the town of Grindavík were successfully evacuated,” the government said in a statement. Although the eruption currently poses no threat to critical infrastructure, officials warned that gas pollution in the area could affect air quality.
Grindavik, which had nearly 4,000 residents before the initial eruptions began in 2023, has been largely abandoned due to the repeated risk of lava flows and related earthquakes. The town now sits on the edge of Iceland’s most active geological zone–one that has fundamentally reshaped the local landscape in just a few short years.
With no sign of the seismic activity slowing down, Iceland’s emergency and scientific teams remain on high alert. The earth beneath Reykjanes is restless–and Icelanders, now seasoned by a new volcanic era, continue to adapt to life between fire and ice.
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