Iceland has declared a state of emergency after a volcano erupted for the fourth time in three months.
The eruption opened a fissure nearly 2 miles lengthy between Stóra-Skógfell and Hagafell mountains on the Reykjanes Peninsula, in keeping with Iceland’s Meteorological Workplace, which had been warning for weeks in regards to the eruption on account of magma accumulating underground.
Volcanic eruptions had slowed considerably, however the eruption has not but ended, in keeping with an replace issued Sunday by Iceland’s Meteorological Workplace. Lava continues to circulation from the fissure, and a lava entrance extends to the west and the south, now about 820 toes from Suðurstrandarvegur – the primary highway on the southern coast of the Reykjanes Peninsula.
The lava has moved at a mean pace of about 39 toes per hour, and it might take a further 20 hours to succeed in the primary highway at that pace, the meteorological workplace stated.
The volcano erupted a couple of miles northeast of the coastal city Grindavik, about 30 miles southwest of Iceland’s capital metropolis, Reykjavik. Grindavik was beforehand evacuated in November when a collection of earthquakes from the Svartsengi volcanic system opened giant cracks north of city.
No flights have been reported to be disrupted by the eruption at Kaflavik, Iceland’s major airport, or at different regional airports.
No deaths have been confirmed from the 4 eruptions, however the Related Press reported one employee has been declared lacking after reportedly falling right into a volcanic fissure.
Iceland’s Blue Lagoon evacuated, quickly closed after eruption
A whole lot of individuals have been evacuated from the Blue Lagoon thermal spa when the eruption started. Blue Lagoon, one of many prime vacationer locations within the nation, posted on its web site Sunday that it was evacuated and has quickly closed all operational models. It would stay closed by means of at the very least Tuesday, March 19.
“Regardless of these current occasions, all our amenities stay in good situation and are surrounded by protecting boundaries designed to safeguard Blue Lagoon’s very important infrastructure in opposition to potential lava flows,” in keeping with a press release on Blue Lagoon’s web site.
Pictures present smoke, lava flowing from the volcanic eruption in Iceland
Contributing: Related Press.