A volcano erupted in southwestern Iceland on Tuesday, prompting the evacuation of a nearby community and one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions, the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa . The eruption began near the town of Grindavik, where around 40 homes had been evacuated earlier in the day. The town had already experienced a major evacuation a year ago when the volcano, dormant for 800 years, first came to life.
Webcams captured dramatic footage of molten rock spewing from a fissure, with flames and smoke rising into the air. Sirens sounded across Grindavik as authorities rushed to secure the area. Iceland’s Meteorological Office (IMO) confirmed that the eruption occurred on the Sundhnuksgigar Crater Row , just north of Grindavik. The fissure extended to approximately 1,200 metres, with lava flowing toward the community.
The IMO reported that a hot water pipeline in the northern part of Grindavik had broken due to fault movements within the town. The eruption, which began at approximately 6:30 a.m. local time, was preceded by an intense earthquake swarm, a common precursor to volcanic activity. The area has experienced multiple eruptions since the end of 2023, with this being the eighth.
Authorities deployed helicopters to assess the location and scale of the eruption. Seismic data from boreholes operated by energy company HS Orka indicated significant underground magma intrusion before the eruption. The region’s police commissioner, Ulfar Ludviksson, confirmed that despite previous evacuations, around 40 houses in Grindavik were still occupied when the latest eruption occurred.
Grindavik, a fishing village with a population of about 4,000, had been largely evacuated in late 2023 following an earlier eruption. Most homes have since been sold to the state, and many residents have relocated. Iceland sits on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates meet, making it one of the most volcanically active regions in the world. Experts believe the region has entered a new phase of heightened activity, with frequent eruptions expected to continue. The country has 33 active volcanic systems, more than any other in Europe, making it a focal point for geological research and disaster preparedness.
Webcams captured dramatic footage of molten rock spewing from a fissure, with flames and smoke rising into the air. Sirens sounded across Grindavik as authorities rushed to secure the area. Iceland’s Meteorological Office (IMO) confirmed that the eruption occurred on the Sundhnuksgigar Crater Row , just north of Grindavik. The fissure extended to approximately 1,200 metres, with lava flowing toward the community.
This is the moment the new eruption began in Iceland….🌋
— Volcaholic 🌋 (@volcaholic1) April 1, 2025
Speed X10 pic.twitter.com/DFxYVFhXgG
The IMO reported that a hot water pipeline in the northern part of Grindavik had broken due to fault movements within the town. The eruption, which began at approximately 6:30 a.m. local time, was preceded by an intense earthquake swarm, a common precursor to volcanic activity. The area has experienced multiple eruptions since the end of 2023, with this being the eighth.
Authorities deployed helicopters to assess the location and scale of the eruption. Seismic data from boreholes operated by energy company HS Orka indicated significant underground magma intrusion before the eruption. The region’s police commissioner, Ulfar Ludviksson, confirmed that despite previous evacuations, around 40 houses in Grindavik were still occupied when the latest eruption occurred.
Grindavik, a fishing village with a population of about 4,000, had been largely evacuated in late 2023 following an earlier eruption. Most homes have since been sold to the state, and many residents have relocated. Iceland sits on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates meet, making it one of the most volcanically active regions in the world. Experts believe the region has entered a new phase of heightened activity, with frequent eruptions expected to continue. The country has 33 active volcanic systems, more than any other in Europe, making it a focal point for geological research and disaster preparedness.
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