A volcano explodes in Iceland after a series of earthquakes, as reported by Icelandic broadcaster RUV on Monday.
The eruption took place on the Reykjanes Peninsula near the capital city of Reykjavik, starting at approximately 16:40 local time on Monday, according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office.
Magnus Tumi Gudmundsson, a geophysics professor, mentioned to RUV that the eruption is currently small, and it is too early to predict its future development. As of Monday evening, the lava flow was measured to be 200 meters long. The Icelandic Meteorological Office compared this to the initial volcanic activity in the same area in 2021 and 2022. The ongoing seismic unrest commenced on July 4.
Isavia, the operator of Keflavik International Airport, stated that the eruption has not affected domestic or international flights. However, there is a three-mile radius exclusion zone around the volcanic eruption site, prohibiting flights except for those transporting scientists and emergency responders.
Amozk Tamozk shared a video tweeting: A volcano erupts in an uninhabited valley about 30km southwest of Reykjavik. People are walking. There doesn’t seem to be any damage😃” People were evidently walking close to the volcano spot.
#Iceland
A #volcano erupts in an uninhabited valley about 30km southwest of #Reykjavik.People are walking. There doesn't seem to be any damage😃 pic.twitter.com/Z8dRfJT2pL
— tamozk🐰 (@tamozk) July 11, 2023
Another image shows dense fumes and fire with lava gushing in the area.
A volcano erupted about 30km from Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik marking the third time in two years that lava has gushed out in the area#Volcano #Reykjavik #Iceland pic.twitter.com/ivnJhCkwAY
— News18 (@CNNnews18) July 11, 2023
Reykjanes Peninsula known for its volcanic and seismic activity
The Reykjanes Peninsula is known for its volcanic and seismic activity. In March 2021, a volcanic eruption occurred in the Fagradalsfjall volcanic system on the peninsula. Lava fountains erupted dramatically from a fissure in the ground that extended approximately 500-750 meters in length. This eruption attracted significant attention and visitors due to its spectacular nature. The eruption continued for several weeks, allowing people to witness the flowing lava up close. It was considered a relatively small eruption in terms of its scale and impact, but it provided a unique opportunity for locals and tourists to observe volcanic activity in Iceland.
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