A volcano on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula erupted Monday night, weeks after nearby town Grindavík was evacuated due to seismic activity.
The eruption details: The eruption illuminated the sky and turned it orange at about 10
* The Icelandic Meteorological Office reported that the eruption occurred approximately 2.4 miles from Grindavík.
* Magma, or semi-molten rock, can be seen spewing along the ridge of a hill as the eruption spreads.
The aftermath: The eruption may continue towards Grindavík, according to “the latest measurements” from the Icelandic Meteorological Office.
* The eruption’s size and the lava flow’s speed are “many times more than in previous eruptions on the Reykjanes Peninsula in recent years.”
* Despite the eruption, Iceland’s foreign minister, Bjarne Benediktsson, assured that there are no flight disruptions and international flight corridors remain open.
Background: Grindavík was evacuated in November after strong seismic activity damaged homes and raised concerns of a possible eruption.
* Iceland, which sits above a volcanic hotspot in the North Atlantic, experiences an eruption on average every four to five years.
* Grindavík, a fishing town of 3,400 residents, sits about 30 miles southwest of the capital, Reykjavik.
Moving forward: Authorities are set to determine the eruption’s exact location and size and measure gas emissions using a coast guard helicopter.
View original article on NPR
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