Latest news with #IcelandicMeteorologicalOffice
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Video Shows Massive Volcano Erupting in Iceland
A volcano in Iceland erupted on Wednesday, July 16, 2025 near the Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland. Intense seismic activity before the Sundhnukur volcano eruption prompted Icelandic authorities to evacuate surrounding areas, including hotels and the popular Blue Lagoon resort nearby. The Icelandic Meteorological Office reported the eruption officially began at 3:56 a.m. local time. Following updates from the office noted that the fissure in the earth's crust where lava was flowing was roughly 700 to 1,000 meters long, with lava flowing southeast and not approaching any infrastructure. The office's updates also include some photos of lava flowing as well as images displaying where the gas pollution from the eruption is heading. A video, published by afarTV, of the eruption provides the clearest look the impressive scene, though. A link to the video can be found here. Iceland's meteorological office began reporting updates on the situation at 1:20 a.m. local time, noting, "Intense seismic swarm has started on the Sundhnúksgígar Crater Row and monitoring data is indicating that an dike intrusion has started." "The likelihood of an eruption remains high while the intrusion is ongoing," the report continued. The office also reported later in the day at 8:45 a.m. local time a warning about dangerous "Witch's hair" in the area of the eruption. "These are fine glass fibers formed when lava droplets cool rapidly and stretch," the report noted. "They are very light and can travel long distances. Witch's hair can cause skin and eye irritation, and people are advised to take precautions when outdoors near the eruption site." The most recent update from the office, published at noon local time, noted the eruption has spread and "is no longer confined to a single fissure." The original fissure, which was as big as one kilometer has now spread to roughly 2.4 kilometers, or just over one mile, and another fissure has opened up that's roughly 500 meters wide. This is the 12th eruption for Iceland in just the last four years, according to Al-Jazeera. Video Shows Massive Volcano Erupting in Iceland first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 16, 2025 Solve the daily Crossword
USA Today
3 days ago
- USA Today
Volcano erupts in Iceland spewing wall of lava: See video, photos
An Icelandic volcano erupted early Wednesday, spewing a bright red wall of lava in a region known for high seismic activity. The eruption began in the early morning hours of July 16, on the Sundhnúkur Crater Row in the Reykjanes Peninsula of southwestern Iceland about 30 miles southwest from the capital, Reykjavik. It's the ninth eruption in the area since December 2023, officials said, and has prompted evacuations of a nearby town and the geothermal tourist attraction, the Blue Lagoon. As of Wednesday afternoon local time, there were no reports of immediate threats to nearby structures, though officials have warned of gas pollution and fine glass fibers emitted from the Sundhnúkur volcano's eruption. The Icelandic Meteorological Office first reported at 1:20 a.m. local time of an "intense seismic swarm" on the Sundhnúkur Crater Row, and that magma had begun to intrude into an area of rock, heightening the chance of an eruption. A little over 2.5 hours later at about 5 a.m., scientists noted the eruption began, which has since grown to more than one single fissure after a second one opened west of Fagradalsfjall, measuring about 1,600 feet. Video shows Icelandic volcano eruption Last Reykjanes Eruption in April: Volcano erupts in Iceland, forcing evacuation of tourists and residents Photos display volcano eruption in Iceland Volcano eruption prompts evacuation, residents ordered to stay inside Officials noted the eruptive fissure about a half a mile long a little over an hour after the eruption started. It grew to just under 1.5 miles long several hours later, according to updates at noon local time. Residents in the area have been advised by meteorological officials to stay indoors, keep windows closed, and turn off ventilation systems to avoid gas pollution risk. There have been reports of so-called "witch's hair" drifting in the wind, the office says, which are fine glass fibers formed when lava droplets cool rapidly and stretch, causing skin and eye irritation. The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service has reported that about 200 guests were evacuated from the Blue Lagoon, and a police commissioner in Suðurnes said the evacuation of Grindavík included about 100 individuals. The government in a July 16 statement advised travelers in the area to monitor air quality, with conditions posted here, and noted that the eruption area is closed to the public for safety reasons. According to Iceland's Department of Civil Protection and Response, the eruption has no impact on other parts of the Reykjanes Peninsula or the rest of Iceland, including Reykjavík. Flights to and from Iceland are operating on schedule, the department said, and the Ring Road (Route 1) remains open. Updates are available via the Icelandic Meteorological Office, and the Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management, as well as official government channels. Kathryn Palmer is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kapalmer@ and on X @KathrynPlmr.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Icelandic volcano erupts, forcing tourists to evacuate famous geothermal spa
A volcanic eruption in Iceland forced tourists to evacuate the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa on Wednesday as images captured lava flowing through a fissure in the Earth's surface. The eruption began around 4 a.m. following an intense seismic swarm on the Reykjanes Peninsula, southwest of the capital, Reykjavik, Iceland's Met Office said. "In an abundance of caution, the town of Grindavík and the Blue Lagoon were successfully evacuated," Iceland's government said. "Travelers in the area are advised to monitor air quality, as gas pollution from the eruption site may occur." Lava from the eruption is flowing southeast from a fissure in the barren landscape that is 2,296 to 3,280 feet wide, according to the Met Office. Scientists Predict Underwater Volcano Eruption 300 Miles Off Oregon Grindavik has been repeatedly affected by volcanic activity since November 2023 when a volcano in the area came to life after lying dormant for some 800 years. Read On The Fox News App "Air traffic to and from Iceland is unaffected, and Iceland remains open and safe for tourists. This volcanic activity is highly localized and has no impact on infrastructure or attractions across the rest of Iceland," the country's government said. It described volcanic activity as a "fact of life in Iceland, and Icelanders have learned to live with its drawbacks and considerable advantages, such as geothermal energy." Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano Erupts With 1,000-Foot 'Lava Fountaining' "The Icelandic Meteorological Office, The Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management, and a team of scientists from the University of Iceland closely monitor and analyze developments relating [to] seismic activities," it also said. Officials said there have been a dozen volcanic eruptions on the Reykjanes Peninsula dating back to 2021. "There is no way of accurately predicting whether, where, or when seismic activity may result in a volcanic eruption or the possible size of such an eruption, but they are closely monitored and constantly evaluated based on the best scientific data available," Iceland's government said. "Iceland is situated on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates diverge, making it one of the most active volcanic regions in the world. Regular seismic events are a characteristic feature of Icelandic geology, ranging from minor tremors to significant earthquakes," it added. "Seismic activity in Iceland is often due to magma movement beneath the earth's crust. It may sometimes result in magma seeking the easiest path to the surface and becoming a volcanic eruption." The Associated Press contributed to this report. Original article source: Icelandic volcano erupts, forcing tourists to evacuate famous geothermal spa Solve the daily Crossword
Gizmodo
3 days ago
- Gizmodo
A Mile-Long Gateway to Hell Opens Up in Iceland
A volcanic eruption in Southwestern Iceland forced the evacuation of a nearby town and the world-famous Blue Lagoon geothermal spa on Wednesday, July 16. Media images captured huge plumes of smoke and glowing lava flows spewing from an enormous crack in Earth's surface roughly 30 miles (18.6 miles) southwest of Reykjavík. This marks the twelfth eruption since volcanic activity reawakened in this region in 2021. The eruption began on the Reykjanes Peninsula's Sundhnúkur crater row around 4 a.m. local time, according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office. An intense earthquake swarm—a sequence of small earthquakes with no distinct mainshock—preceded the eruption. Just after 5 a.m., lava began flowing southeast from an eruptive fissure that stretched roughly 2,300 to 3,300 feet (700 to 1,000 meters) long. As of 12 p.m., the eruption was no longer contained to a single fissure, the Met Office said. The larger, main fissure at Sundhnúkur crater had grown to a length of 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers), and a smaller, 1,600-foot-long (500-meter-long) fissure had opened up west of the volcano Fagradalsfjall. The Government of Iceland says this eruption is highly localized and poses no threat to infrastructure, tourist attractions, or air traffic, but it does pose certain health hazards. Just before 9 a.m., the Met Office reported 'witch's hair' drifting in the wind. These are fine glass fibers that form when lava droplets rapidly cool and stretch. Because they can cause skin and eye irritation, officials advised locals to take precautions when outdoors near the eruption site. In Reykjanesbær, home to roughly 20,000 residents, officials also detected high levels of volcanic gases. These pollutants can irritate the respiratory system, but levels were decreasing around 9 a.m., according to the Met Office. In an abundance of caution, officials ordered evacuations for the nearby town of Grindavík and the Blue Lagoon. Prior to 2023, Grindavík was home to nearly 4,000 residents, but its population shrunk significantly in recent years due to heightened volcanic activity in its locality. In 2021, powerful earthquakes began rumbling beneath this small town, generated by magma movement within the Fagradalsfjall volcanic system. In March of that year, Fagradalsfjall erupted for the first time in 800 years, putting an end to centuries of volcanic dormancy on Reykjanes Peninsula. Since 2023, Grindavík has faced repeated eruptions from Sundhnúkur, forcing residents to confront the reality of living atop an active volcanic zone. The town has remained mostly deserted since signs of an impending fissure eruption prompted an evacuation order in November 2023. The volcano finally erupted in December, causing structural damage to roads and buildings. Subsequent eruptions in 2024 caused further damage. By now, almost all residents have sold their houses to the state and left town. The desertion has contributed to a 4.4% population decline in Iceland's Suðurnes region, according to Iceland Review. It's unlikely that Grindavík's circumstances will improve anytime soon. Experts have said the eruptions in the area could recur for centuries, Reuters reports. So far, eruptions on the Reykjanes peninsula have not posed a threat to Reykjavik or disrupted air traffic in and out of Iceland. If that changes, these eruptions could have a national impact, taking a toll on Iceland's booming tourism industry.
USA Today
3 days ago
- USA Today
Volcano erupts in Iceland spewing wall of lava: See photos
An Icelandic volcano erupted early Wednesday, spewing a bright red wall of lava in a region known for high seismic activity. The eruption began in the early morning hours of July 16, on the Sundhnúkur Crater Row in the Reykjanes Peninsula of southwestern Iceland about 30 miles southwest from the capital, Reykjavik. It's the ninth eruption in the area since December 2023, officials said, and has prompted evacuations of a nearby town and the geothermal tourist attraction, the Blue Lagoon. As of Wednesday afternoon local time, there were no reports of immediate threats to nearby structures, though officials have warned of gas pollution and fine glass fibers emitted from the Sundhnúkur volcano's eruption. The Icelandic Meteorological Office first reported at 1:20 a.m. local time of an "intense seismic swarm" on the Sundhnúkur Crater Row, and that magma had begun to intrude into an area of rock, heightening the chance of an eruption. A little over 2.5 hours later at about 5 a.m., scientists noted the eruption began, which has since grown to more than one single fissure after a second one opened west of Fagradalsfjall, measuring about 1,600 feet. Last Reykjanes Eruption in April: Volcano erupts in Iceland, forcing evacuation of tourists and residents Photos display volcano eruption in Iceland Volcano eruption prompts evacuation, residents ordered to stay inside Officials noted the eruptive fissure about a half a mile long a little over an hour after the eruption started, growing to just under 1.5 miles long several hours later according to updates at noon local time. Residents in the area have been advised by meteorological officials to stay indoors, keep windows closed, and turn off ventilation systems to avoid gas pollution risk. There have been reports of so-called "witch's hair" drifting in the wind, the office says, which are fine glass fibers formed when lava droplets cool rapidly and stretch, causing skin and eye irritation. The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service has reported that about 200 guests were evacuated from the Blue Lagoon, and a police commissioner in Suðurnes said the evacuation of Grindavík included about 100 individuals. The government in a July 16 statement advised travelers in the area to monitor air quality, with conditions posted here, and noted that the eruption area is closed to the public for safety reasons. According to Iceland's Department of Civil Protection and Response, the eruption has no impact on other parts of the Reykjanes Peninsula or the rest of Iceland, including Reykjavík. Flights to and from Iceland are operating on schedule, the department said, and the Ring Road (Route 1) remains open. Updates are available via the Icelandic Meteorological Office and the Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management, as well as official government channels. Kathryn Palmer is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kapalmer@ and on X @KathrynPlmr.
