Iceland: Volcano erupts with geysers of molten lava shooting into sky

In Iceland, a volcano has erupted, with geysers of molten lava shooting into the sky, after weeks of seismic activity had the region, southwest of the capital Reykjavik, on high alert.

The Icelandic Meteorological Office said, the eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula, just north of the fishing town Grindavik, began yesterday night, after a series of small shakes. The meteorological office added that the intensity of the eruption had stabilised and the activity is decreasing, although was unable to estimate how long it would last.

President Gudni Thorlacius



Johannesson has said that protecting lives and infrastructure was the priority. He said they are waiting to see what the forces of nature have in store. Head of the Department of Civil Protection, Vidir Reynisson, urged people to stay away from the area, asserting that it is not a tourist eruption.

For weeks, the Nordic country had been anticipating an eruption on the peninsula after intense earthquake activity, which prompted authorities to evacuate thousands of people and close the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, famed for its turquoise waters.