Volcano erupts south of Iceland’s capital, triggering evacuations

A volcano erupted south of Iceland’s capital on Tuesday, spewing lava and smoke. It triggered evacuations but did not disrupt air travel, marking the 11th eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula since 2021.

A volcano erupted once again to the south of Iceland’s capital on Tuesday, sending lava and smoke into the air in a dramatic display of orange and red. The eruption prompted some evacuations, although air traffic remained unaffected.

Known as the land of ice and fire due to its numerous glaciers and volcanoes, the North Atlantic island nation has now experienced 11 eruptions south of Reykjavík since 2021, when long-dormant geological systems became active after approximately 800 years.

"Warning: An eruption has begun," the Icelandic Meteorological Office announced in a statement.

Emergency services evacuated the nearby Blue Lagoon luxury spa as well as residents from the fishing town of Grindavík in the hours leading up to the eruption, following warnings from geologists that an outbreak was imminent, according to public broadcaster RUV.

The eruptions on the Reykjanes Peninsula have so far not directly impacted the capital and have not resulted in significant ash dispersal into the stratosphere, meaning air travel has not been disrupted.

Icelandic experts suggest that these so-called fissure eruptions, where lava emerges from long cracks in the earth’s crust rather than a single volcanic vent, could continue for decades or even centuries.

An eruption in January 2024 caused damage to homes and roads in Grindavík, leading to a mass evacuation at the time, although some residents have since returned.