Volcano Erupts on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula

Iceland has been on high alert since October 24, following an initial seismic swarm of over 4,000 earthquakes within just a few days, as reported by the Icelandic Meteorological Office, the nation's weather service. Nearly two months and countless earthquakes later, the anticipated volcanic eruption has finally occurred.

On December 18, an eruption began near the town of Grindavík, located just south of the famous Blue Lagoon geothermal baths and approximately 30 miles southwest of Reykjavík. The eruption commenced at 10:17 p.m. local time, preceded by another series of earthquakes that began at 9 p.m. on the same day.

According to the Icelandic Meteorological Office, “The eruption is situated near Sundhnúkagígar, about four kilometers northeast of Grindavík, and it can be monitored via nearby web cameras.” The fissure from the eruption stretches roughly 2.5 miles in length.

The eruption on Monday illuminated the sky in orange hues and led to civil defense being placed on high alert, as reported by the Associated Press .

Following the heightened risk of an eruption nearby, the renowned Blue Lagoon geothermal baths shut down on November 9. It had just announced plans to reopen on Sunday, December 17, but now remains closed once again.

“A volcanic eruption began in Sundhnúkagígar on the evening of December 18. Consequently, we have temporarily closed our facilities in Svartsengi,” stated the Blue Lagoon in a notice on its website. The closure will last until December 27, when the situation will be re-evaluated. The company is reaching out to all guests with existing reservations.

A report from the Icelandic Meteorological Office on December 19 indicated that the eruption's intensity is already declining. “The lava flow is now estimated to be about one-quarter of its initial volume since the eruption began on December 18, with only a third of the original fissure still active,” the agency noted.

Meanwhile, efforts are underway to construct a protective barrier around the Blue Lagoon. “These barriers are designed to safeguard essential infrastructure from possible lava flows,” the Blue Lagoon explained. “The plan takes into account various scenarios that may arise in the event of an eruption, based on expert assessments.”

The surge in seismic activity is attributed to the buildup of magma several miles beneath the Earth's surface.

In the weeks following the initial seismic swarm, thousands of earthquakes continued to rattle the region, illustrating the episodic seismic activity that is typical during magma buildup, according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office.

As authorities keep a close watch on the seismic fluctuations, flights to and from Keflavík Airport (KEF) are proceeding as scheduled.

Often referred to as the land of fire and ice, this remote Nordic nation ranks among the most volcanically active regions on the planet, sitting atop the Mid-Atlantic Ridge—a 25-mile underwater ridge that separates the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Iceland is home to around 130 volcanoes, with the most recent eruption occurring in July at the Fagradalsfjall volcano in an uninhabited area of the Reykjanes Peninsula. This marks the third consecutive year of activity for this volcano, which was also active in August 2022 and from March to December in 2021.

Before the eruptions in 2021, this volcanic system had remained dormant since the 12th century. None of these recent eruptions affected Keflavík, the largest airport in the country, located about 15 miles from the Blue Lagoon and roughly an hour's drive from Reykjavík. The last time the airport faced temporary closure due to volcanic activity was in 2011, when the Grimsvotn volcano erupted, sending ash and smoke 12 miles into the atmosphere, disrupting transatlantic flights and grounding planes in several European destinations, including Scotland and Germany.

The Blue Lagoon is among Iceland’s most popular tourist destinations, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year to a country with a population of fewer than 400,000. The stunning icy blue waters are framed by black lava formations and are one of hundreds of geothermal pools and hot springs, showcasing a culture of year-round outdoor bathing that is quintessential to Iceland.

Reporting contributed by Regan Stephens.