The Icelandic authorities declared a state of emergency on Monday evening due to the disaster Volcanic eruption near the town of Grindavik (Reykjanes Peninsula), on the southwest coast of the island.
The outbreak was This was preceded by a series of earthquakes in the Sundhnjúka craterTherefore, the entire area was evacuated, as the Icelandic newspaper “Fréttabladid” reports.
The estimated length of the fissure is about 3.5 kilometers, significantly larger than previous eruptions. The speed of the lava flow is between 100 and 200 cubic meters per second, which also represents a notable increase compared to other eruptions on the peninsula in recent years.
According to the Icelandic Meteorological Office, the eruption is subsiding, while Icelandic authorities have set up a safety zone in the affected area, which was already evacuated weeks ago.
In the Large lava fountains can be seen in live images and the IOM notes that “the magnitude of the eruption has decreased over time, as has seismicity and deformation.”
Icelandic President Guðni Jóhannesson wrote in a message on the social network
“Now we wait to see what the forces of nature have in store for us. We are repaired and remain vigilant,” he indicated.