Fear in Iceland over a new volcanic eruption that occurred today after 7am (8am in Italy) south-west of the capital Rejkyavik. According to local press reports, the eruption has resumed on the Reykjaness peninsula, much further south than that of 18 December. The National Police Public Security Department declared a state of emergency .
At the moment it seems that a crack opened in Sundhnúk, north of Grindavík (completely evacuated in the early hours of the morning), around 7.57 am and is already getting longer. Sundnúkur is located on a watershed so it is unclear where the lava might flow. Meanwhile, the eastern part of Grindavík remained without electricity. Geoscientists believe that magma may be located directly beneath the city . Icelandic Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir was worried and declared after the start of the new volcanic eruption: «The situation is terrifying . It's scary to see how close the eruption is to Grindavík that started this morning."
From a photo taken by a reporter on board a Coast Guard helicopter, you can clearly see the lava approaching the town : «This is the scenario we feared the most. Lava flows into the garden,” one resident said. While the images broadcast live already during the night show jets of incandescent lava standing out against the dark sky. This is the fifth volcanic eruption in two years in a land that hosts 33 active volcanic systems (the highest number in Europe) and straddles the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a fissure in the ocean floor that separates the Eurasian tectonic plates and North American.
And as residents' apprehension and fear grow, Icelandic President Gudni Johannesson said on X that "no lives are in danger." But some infrastructure would be. In the meantime, air traffic will not be interrupted.
(Unioneonline/vf)
