Volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula - NRK Urix

It was around 11pm on Monday, Norwegian time, when a series of earthquakes struck the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwest Iceland. About an hour later, lava came to the surface.

It is likely that the strongest earthquake that occurred in the swarm on Monday evening had a magnitude of 4.2, according to preliminary measurements. Icelandic writes it RÚV.

The newspaper wrote that the outbreak was the fourth in three years Morning paper time.

A state of emergency was declared in the area.

Says geologist and volcano expert Arman Hoskoldsson Morgunblaðið This explosion is much stronger than the last three explosions in the region.

– Yes, this is completely different. This is serious. Others were like appetizers. Because the eruption is stronger, he also believes it will be over in a few days.

– This will probably be over in a week or ten days. He told the newspaper that this is a strong outbreak and will end soon.

It does not flow towards Grindavík

At present, the lava flow does not threaten the infrastructure in Grindavik.

-The eruption occurs north of the watershed, so lava does not flow towards Grindavik. However, that could change if the notch changes, Björn Odsson of Norwegian Civil Defense tells RUV.

The Svartsinje power plant is also not under threat now.

Early Tuesday morning, RUV reported that the eruption was about to decrease in strength in the southern part of the fissure.

Johan Høkor Stingrimsson works for Efla, an engineering company that worked on the “firewall” around Svartsinge and the Blue Lake, and he says that was before the lava hit the wall at the Blue Lake.

It is also believed that the outbreak occurred in a relatively “lucky” place:

– This is really as good as it can be under the circumstances

A volcanic fissure four kilometers long

A helicopter was dispatched on Monday evening to investigate the extent of the volcano’s eruption.

On board the helicopter are three researchers and a photographer from RÚV. The photos taken from the helicopter are amazing:

According to the Icelandic Meteorological Institute, the eruption is “most likely” limited to an area between Selinjarfell and Hagafell, just north of Grindavik.

The eruption consists of several volcanic fissures totaling about four kilometers.

In this area there were fears of an eruption in November.

They were evacuated again

The outbreak comes nearly a month after Icelandic authorities lowered the alert level, allowing citizens to return to their homes for longer periods each day.

The eruption also comes just one day after the Blue Lagoon reopened after being closed since November 9.

Video from a guide shows the eruption painting the night sky red.

Wall of fire

NRK spoke to Ingólfur Þór Tómasson. Lives in Keflavik.

-I’m standing outside on the balcony and see a sea of fire. The whole sky is glowing red. It’s very quiet and a lot of smoke. Wall of fire. I think it’s almost. “15-20 kilometers as the crow flies from here, north of Grindavik,” Thomasson says.

He says he first saw a small, bright spot of lava in the dark. But she quickly became “fierce.”

-At first I thought it was a burning house. Since then it has only grown and grown and grown. Much is uncertain. There’s not much they can say yet. But it’s exactly the same at the Svartsinje power plant.

Therefore, Thomason fears that they will lose water and heat.

– It’s hard to say what will happen, but it looks like the city is on fire. This eruption felt very close to people and buildings. Other outbreaks were not like that.

Not a “tourist outbreak”

As for RÚV, police chief, Víðir Reynisson, says they are working to pinpoint the exact location of the eruption, but lava appears to be sliding in all directions from the fissure, which also appears to be quite large.

He also says it “must be assumed” that lava could flow toward Grindavik and onto dikes created to slow the lava. People nearby are also asked to stay home.

– He says: – We are not looking at the spread of tourism.