The eruption that began on Saturday evening is the largest of the four eruptions that have occurred in recent months, says the head of the civil defense in Iceland to RUV.
– We saw it from right outside where we lived, and it was like a bright red colour. Like a sunset.
That’s what Marthe Halle Lavik says to NRK. She is in practice in Iceland in connection with teacher studies together with, among others, Kristin Bakke. They live in Reykjavík, some distance from the eruption.
– But it was very, very clear. We are far from it, but it is shining in the clouds, says Bakke.
Marthe Halle Lavik is in Iceland.
Has decreased somewhat
The volcanic fissure is around 3.5 kilometers long and the lava has reached the conservancy’s indavik, RUV reports. The lava has also cleared to the west, across the road Grindavikurveg, which leads into Grindavik
Work is being done to prevent the lava from hitting the water pipeline to Grindavik, and the lava is now around 300 meters from the water pipeline, according to the Icelandic national broadcaster.
Geophysicist Magnús Tumi Guðmundsson on board the Coast Guard’s helicopter on Saturday evening.
Photo: HANDOUT / AFP
On Sunday morning, geophysicist Magnús Tumi Guðmundsson informs RUV that the eruption has subsided somewhat.
– The lava crack has started to get a little shorter at both ends. The activity has started to decrease, but it is still quite strong, he says.
Guðmundsson emphasizes that it is too early to draw any conclusions.
– It remains to be said, and we just have to wait and see, he continues.
The lava flows over the road into Grindavik
Photo: Þór Ægisson / RÚV
The Icelandic national broadcaster Rúv write that the eruption started between Stóra Skógfell and Hagafell at 20:23 local time, after brief seismic activity. The eruption came one minute after the meteorological institute warned of the danger of an eruption.
Around 700 people were evacuated from the Blue Lagoon and Grindavík within about half an hour, according to RUV.
The Blue Lagoon evacuated
It is in the same area where the previous outbreaks have been.
Tourists and others are encouraged not to visit the areas around the outbreak, to ensure free movement for the emergency services.
People outside Reykjavík pose in front of the volcanic eruption on Saturday evening.
Photo: Halldor Kolbeins / AFP
Keflavik airport, which is located furthest north on Reykjanes, is not affected by the outbreak, and air traffic is still running as normal, writes NTB.
On Friday, the meteorologists reported that there was an increased probability of eruptions.
NRK talks to the students while they sit on the bus in Reykjavík. They are on their way to a place with a better view of the eruption.
– They talked about it perhaps coming last week, so we have been waiting for this. For us, it is probably the most exciting. But we can say that because we are at a safe distance, says Lavik.
The Norwegian students in Iceland say the sky is glowing red after the new volcanic eruption. From left Marthe Halle Lavik, Kristin Bakke and Marthe Rein Haga.
Photo: Private
Similar to previous outbreaks
Since 18 December 2023, there have been three volcanic eruptions on the Reykjanes peninsula. The last one for the time being started on Thursday 8 February and lasted two days.
Then the lava flowed over the main road into the town of Grindavík and the road into the tourist attraction The Blue Lagoon. The lava also destroyed the hot water supply to the Reykjanes peninsula.
On 2 March, a light earthquake was measured on the Reykjaneshalvøya. According to the country’s meteorological institute, it was then likely that a new volcanic eruption was on the way. The magma then appeared to be at a depth of around four kilometers.
Bjarki Kaldalóns Fris of the Icelandic Meteorological Institute, an expert on natural hazards, tells Rúv that the eruption is similar to the one that took place on February 8.
He says that the earthquake activity started in the area around seven o’clock on Saturday evening.
– It went very quickly before it came, an eruption started around 8.20pm, but we don’t have the exact time yet, he says.
Bjarki says it is difficult to estimate the size of the outbreak at the present time.
Journalism student Emily Solem-Young took this photo of people wanting to catch the latest volcanic eruption in Iceland.
Foto: Emily Solem-Young
Thrown himself in the car
Emily Solem-Young and Nikoline Bruvik are studying journalism at Oslo Met, and are in Iceland in connection with a school assignment.
They make reports about Iceland and volcanic activity. When the message about an outbreak came, they threw themselves in the car.
– We stand and look at a large, orange cloud that is lifted behind a mountain. Around us there are many people standing and looking at the same thing. It feels really cool, but very scary. A bit of an adrenaline rush, says Solem-Young to NRK.
Nikoline Bruvik and Emily Solem-Young got to experience the latest eruption in Iceland. They are in Iceland in connection with a school assignment about volcanic activity.
Photo: Private
The students visited Grindavík earlier on Saturday.
– It was very special that it happened right while we are here, and at the city we were in earlier today.
2024-03-17 04:54:29
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