Iceland volcano erupts near Blue Lagoon

A volcano has erupted in southwest Iceland, spewing lava and smoke from a large fissure, marking the latest in a series of eruptions on the Reykjanes Peninsula since 2021.

A volcanic eruption sent glowing lava and dense smoke from a newly formed fissure up to 1,000 metres long, as seen in live footage.

The eruption is the latest in a series of volcanic events in the Reykjanes Peninsula, which has reactivated in recent years after centuries of dormancy.

Iceland's meteorological office confirmed that magma broke through the earth’s crust without significant prior warning. The eruption is currently considered small and does not threaten infrastructure. 

Authorities evacuated visitors from the Blue Lagoon spa and the nearby town of Grindavik, which has largely remained empty since a previous evacuation in 2023 due to ongoing seismic activity and lava threats.

Experts believe such fissure eruptions, where lava flows from long cracks rather than a central crater—could continue for decades or longer, although they have not yet disrupted Reykjavik or international air traffic.

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