Volcanic Eruption on Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland

On Monday night, an eruption commenced on the Reykjanes peninsula, south of Reykjavik, Iceland, following seismic activity reported by Iceland’s Meteorological Office (IMO). The eruption, confirmed around 22:17 GMT, coincided with a series of small earthquakes earlier that evening.

The precise location and scale of the eruption are under assessment by a Coast Guard helicopter. The event follows heightened seismicity last month, with numerous small earthquakes signaling magma movement beneath the Earth’s surface. Notably, the 4,000 residents of Grindavik were evacuated on November 11 due to increased volcanic activity.

Iceland, hosting 33 active volcano systems, witnesses a historic event as the Reykjanes peninsula remained dormant for eight centuries until 2021. This marks the fourth eruption in the region, prompting volcanologists to anticipate a potential era of heightened volcanic activity.

For further updates and information, please stay tuned to official announcements from the Iceland Meteorological Office.