Important Takeaways:
- Lava flows into the Icelandic town of Grindavik appeared to be slowing, authorities said Monday, after several houses were destroyed by fires.
- A volcano on the Reykjanes peninsula erupted in the early hours of Sunday, spilling lava into the fishing town.
- Defenses built after an eruption in December have partially contained the lava, but some have been breached.
- The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) said the barriers had been breached in some places, allowing lava to reach the town which then set houses and buildings on fire.
- Volcanologist Evgenia Ilyinskaya told BBC Breakfast that the peninsula was likely entering a period of frequent eruptions, known as the New Reykjanes Fires.
- Prof Ilyinskaya said eruptions could take place “every few months or once a year for several decades or several centuries.”
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Important Takeaways:
- Iceland Volcano Erupts, Spewing Lava After Prolonged Seismic Activity
- The Iceland Meteorological Office has reported that the Reykjanes volcano in the country’s southwest has erupted following weeks of high seismic activity. The eruption has resulted in large plumes of smoke and river of lava.
- Reuters images and a live broadcast showed molten rock erupting like fountains from ground fissures, the bright yellow and orange hues cutting a striking contrast against the dark night sky. The country’s civil defense has advised the public to avoid the area while the situation is being evaluated by emergency response teams.
- A coastguard helicopter is set to confirm the eruption’s exact location and size shortly, says the Met Office. Reykjavik’s international airport remains open with no disruptions to incoming or outgoing flights confirmed at this time. The Reykjanes peninsula has seen several eruptions in non-populated areas recently but the current eruption could present a risk to Grindavik’s populace.
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