OSLO, Norway – A volcano has erupted on the Reykjanes peninsula in southwest Iceland, close to the capital Reykjavik, following intense earthquake exercise within the space, the nation’s Meteorological Office (IMO) mentioned on Monday.
“At the moment, it’s a very small eruption,” mentioned Matthew Roberts of the service and analysis division on the IMO. He added there was no direct imminent hazard to individuals within the area.
Traffic at Reykjavik’s worldwide Keflavik airport was not disrupted, the airport mentioned on its web site.
Experts from the IMO will assess the place precisely the lava is rising and the way the eruption evolves over the approaching hours.
It was confirmed at 1640 GMT, the IMO mentioned.
Images and livestreams by native news retailers MBL and RUV confirmed lava and smoke emanating from a fissure within the floor on the facet of the Fagradalsfjall mountain.
Reykjanes Peninsula is a volcanic and seismic hot-spot southwest of the capital Reykjavik. In March 2021, lava fountains erupted spectacularly from a 500-750 meters lengthy fissure within the floor within the Fagradalsfjall volcanic system.
Volcanic exercise within the space continued for six months that 12 months, prompting 1000’s of Icelanders and vacationers to go to the scene. In August 2022, a three-week eruption occurred in the identical space.
The system, which is round 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) broad and 19 kilometers lengthy, had remained inactive for greater than 6,000 years previous to these two eruptions.
Unlike the eruption in 2010 of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano, which halted roughly 100,000 flights and compelled a whole bunch of Icelanders from their properties, this eruption shouldn’t be anticipated to spew a lot into the environment.
“This is not a volcanic eruption with any ash. This is simply lava,” the IMO’s Roberts mentioned. — Reuters
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
