thomas mackintosh,katherine armstrong
Another volcanic eruption has begun in southwestern Iceland, forcing the evacuation of the famous geothermal Blue Lagoon Spa and the small fishing village of Grindavik.
The new fissure opened near Sundhnuksgigar on the Reykjanes peninsula, the fifth eruption in the region since December.
The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) said the crack was more than 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) long and was continuing to grow.
Although a state of emergency has been declared, air travel to and from Iceland is not expected to be affected.
Grindavík mayor Fannar Jónasson told state broadcaster RUV he was worried about “much larger amounts” of lava flowing toward the town than had been seen since recent volcanic eruptions.
Energy supplier HS Veitur said it had cut off power to Grindavik as a precautionary measure.
According to local media, three people refused to leave the village.
Officials later released a statement saying they “strongly urge anyone in or near Grindavik to leave the area and ensure safe distancing.”
All but one road leading to and from the village is currently reported to be inaccessible.
Footage of the explosion showed walls of molten rock rising up to 50 meters high and huge plumes of ash covering most of the sky.
Natural history cinematographer Benjamin Hardman has been filming volcanoes in Iceland and was near the volcano when it erupted.
“It’s really surreal to be here today,” he told the BBC.
“These are strange times on the Reykjanes Peninsula.”
The Svartsengi power plant, which supplies electricity and water to thousands of people on the peninsula, was also evacuated.
Barriers have been built around the facility and around Grindavik and the Blue Lagoon to protect it from lava flows from the ongoing eruption.
Keflavík International Airport said it was operating as usual and did not expect to be affected.
Officials reported “significant seismic activity” before Wednesday's explosion.
Geophysicist Ari Trausti Gudmundsson said scientists had been expecting a new explosion for some time.
Most of Grindavik's 4,000 residents were permanently evacuated in November before the volcano erupted in December. february and March.
Lava flowed into the streets. When the explosion occurred in JanuaryIt covered three houses.
Afterwards, a small number of residents returned to live in less dangerous areas.
Iceland has 33 active volcanoes, located on what is known as the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the boundary between the two largest tectonic plates on Earth.
The last time there was volcanic activity on the Reykjanes Peninsula was 800 years ago, and eruptions have continued for decades.
This eruption is the eighth since 2021, and scientists believe the region is entering a new volcanic era that could last for decades, even centuries.