Iceland volcano erupted again just hours after officials evacuated the last residents of the adjacent fishing community of Grindavik. A volcano in southwest Iceland, which has erupted frequently for over a year, unleashed lava and smoke once more on Tuesday.

Warning sirens were activated in Grindavik at 9:45 a.m. local time (0945 GMT) when the eruption started. Molten rock was seen gushing toward the neighborhood on webcam footage. Volcanic activity continued, although by late afternoon, the eruption had diminished, according to the Icelandic Met Office (IMO).

About 40 residences in Grindavik, along with the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, one of Iceland’s most visited tourist spots, had already been evacuated by authorities. Police said that several residents declined to leave despite the evacuation order.

When the volcano resurfaced in November 2023, after nearly 800 years of dormancy, a massive evacuation of Grindavik had already taken place.

Safety Measures and Residents’ Struggles Amid Volcanic Activity

Úlfar Lúðvíksson, the commissioner of police for South Iceland, asked anyone who remained in the town to consider the strain on emergency services. He expressed concern that some locals were not considering this effort and mentioned that approximately 50 people, including volunteers, were participating in the operation. Additionally, he urged that civil defense activities be given more priority.

Before the eruption, residents had been feeling tremors often. Asrun Kristinsdottir, a resident of Grindavik, described how she fled her house when she heard emergency sirens early in the morning. She had emergency supplies in her baggage because she had spent most of her life close to the volcano. However, as she was getting ready to leave, she noted that this time felt different due to the “constant” vibrations.

A fresh fissure that erupted a few hundred meters within the town’s fortifications has breached the defensive barriers surrounding Grindavik, according to confirmation from the IMO. Another indicator of severe ground fissuring was the rupture of a hot water line in the town’s northern section.

Longtime Grindavik resident Thormar Omarrson, who owned a pizza place there, described how the growing fear of volcanic eruptions prompted him to leave the area in 2024. “Leaving was heartbreaking,” he remarked. “My family was born and raised there, and now their community is gone.” However, several of his friends decided to stay despite the dangers. “When you live there in your home, you want to be left alone in your home,” he commented.

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Geological Impact and Future Risks

Iceland volcano erupted again, causing significant geological impact and future risks. Tuesday’s magma formation beneath the crater was the longest since November 11, 2023, spanning over 11 km (6.8 miles). Compared to previous eruptions, the magma channel now extends approximately 3 km farther northeast, according to meteorologists.

Lava flows might reach populated areas, experts warn. The Nordic Volcanological Centre‘s Rikke Pedersen emphasized the possible threat to Grindavik. For their protection, locals were urged by police commissioner Lúðvíksson to evacuate the danger zone.

Iceland is situated on top of a North Atlantic volcanic hotspot. Although aircraft were unaffected by Tuesday’s eruption, previous eruptions, including the 2010 Eyjafjallajokull event, seriously disrupted transatlantic air travel.

The Reykjanes Peninsula has seen many eruptions since 2021. The last extended volcanic eruption in the area occurred 800 years ago, and it lasted for decades. Iceland is located alongside the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which separates two main tectonic plates, and is home to 33 active volcanic systems.

The Icelandic Meteorological Office cautioned that gas pollution from the eruption is predicted to move northeast into Iceland’s capital area based on wind direction.

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