Southwest Iceland's volcano erupts, no casualty reported

• A volcano erupted in southwest Iceland, marking the fifth eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula since 2021.
• The eruption began north of the fishing town of Grindavik.
• The most recent eruption occurred on December 18.

On Sunday, a volcano erupted in southwest Iceland, marking the fifth eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula since 2021, according to the country’s meteorological office. The Civil Protection Agency dispatched a Coast Guard helicopter to assess the situation and determine the exact location.

The eruption was initiated north of the fishing town of Grindavik, but the specific emergence point of the lava and its flowing direction remained unclear, as reported by broadcaster RUV.

The most recent eruption on the peninsula commenced in the Svartsengi volcanic system on December 18. It led to the complete evacuation of Grindavik's 4,000 inhabitants and the closure of the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, a popular tourist destination. Fortunately, Grindavik was spared as the lava flowed in a different direction from the town.

Iceland, situated between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates, two of the planet's largest, experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to the plates' opposing movements.

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