by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 10:35 AM ET, Thu February 8, 2024
The volcano on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula is causing more trouble for the residents of the nearby town, Grindavík, as well as the country’s popular tourist hotspot, the Blue Lagoon.
According to Forbes, seismic activity began at approximately 5:30 a.m. before lava erupted from a new, 1.8-mile fissure between Sundhnúkur and Stóra-Skógfell, two mountains. Lava was recorded spewing 230 feet into the sky, damaging water and electric infrastructure, cutting off electricity to the town and damaging a hot water pipeline that services much of the peninsula.
The same volcano erupted earlier in January and in December, prompting previous evacuations for the residents of Grindavík and closing the Blue Lagoon. This time, the Icelandic Civil Protection Agency declared a state of emergency in several towns, including another evacuation of Grindavík.
The town, which is located a short distance from both the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik and the Keflavic International Airport, is visible from Icelandic President Guðni Jóhannesson’s home, and he posted on X a photo of what the newest eruption looks like from his residence.
He wrote, "The view outside my residence as I woke up this morning. This is the third eruption in three months. Flights to and from Iceland are not at all affected. As before, our thoughts are with the people of Grindavík who cannot reside in their beautiful town. This too shall pass."
The airport is still operational and expects no changes or delays due to the volcanic eruption.
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