Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula sees fourth eruption since December

A new volcanic eruption has occurred on Iceland's Reykjanes peninsula, marking the fourth such event in the area since December.

The Icelandic Met Office (IMO) issued a statement confirming the eruption between stora Skogfell and Hagafell on the peninsula. Live video footage captured glowing lava and billowing smoke emanating from the fissure.

Following the seismic activity indicating an increased likelihood, the eruption commenced. The Icelandic Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management dispatched a helicopter to pinpoint the exact location of the new fissure.

Reports from local media indicated the evacuation of Grindavik, a fishing town near the eruption site, had started. Residents received text messages urging them to evacuate promptly. Grindavik, with approximately 4,000 residents, had only recently been allowed to return home on February 19 after being evacuated in November due to seismic activity.

Previously, the town had been rattled by hundreds of tremors, causing structural damage and road cracks. While a volcanic fissure spared the village in December, subsequent eruptions in January and February caused significant damage, with lava flowing into the streets and destroying several homes.

Iceland boasts 33 active volcano systems, the highest number in Europe, owing to its location atop the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Despite this, the Reykjanes peninsula had not experienced an eruption for eight centuries until March 2021. Subsequent eruptions in August 2022 and July and December 2023 indicated a resurgence of seismic activity in the region, suggesting the onset of a new era of volcanic activity.