<p>A state of emergency was declared in southern Iceland on Saturday (March 16) as another volcanic eruption rocked&nbsp;the Reykjanes Peninsula, a little over 80 km southwest of the capital Reykjavík in what is the fourth such eruption in the region since December 2023.</p>

<p>Residents of the small town of Grindavik were asked to evacuate as ongoing flare-ups continued to wreak havoc in the area.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Additionally, the popular tourist attraction, the Blue Lagoon, has been evacuated as a precautionary measure. A massive lava spill is generating billows of smoke, creating a spectacle for onlookers.</p>

<h2><strong>Iceland volcanic eruption: When did it happen?</strong></h2>

<p>The eruption commenced after 20:00 local time (20:00 GMT) on Saturday, between Hagafell and Stora-Scogfell, north of Grindavik, according to Iceland's civil defence service. This eruption occurred at the site of the eruption of 8 December.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Volcano erupts for fourth time on Iceland peninsula <a href="https://t.co/pE0UADg0Sy">pic.twitter.com/pE0UADg0Sy</a></p>
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<p>Footage capturing the volcanic eruption&nbsp;depicts clouds of smoke and molten magma flowing and bubbling from vents in the earth's surface.</p>

<p>The Icelandic Meteorological Agency reported a brief lead-up to the eruption and indicated that initial assessments suggest a comparable volume of magma to that of December's event. However, the agency cautioned that expected adverse weather conditions could hinder monitoring efforts to some degree.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/iceland-volcano-is-ejecting-enough-lava-to-fill-olympic-swimming-pool-in-20-seconds-671351">Iceland volcano is ejecting enough lava to fill olympic swimming pool in 20 seconds</a></strong></p>

<p>While Keflavik International Airport and other regional airports remain unaffected, the closure of the Blue Lagoon will continue until further notice as a safety precaution.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Iceland's airspace remains open.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Iceland has 33 active volcano systems</strong></h2>

<p>Approximately 4,000 residents of Grindavik were only recently been permitted to return to their homes after an eruption in January, which resulted in magma infiltrating the town and destroying three homes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, reports by the AFP news agency indicate that only around 100 residents have opted to return thus far.</p>

<p>Iceland, with 33 active volcano systems, straddles the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the boundary between two of Earth's largest tectonic plates. The Reykjanes Peninsula last experienced a period of volcanic activity 800 years ago, which lasted for decades.</p>

<p>The current eruption marks the seventh since 2021.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A state of emergency was declared in southern Iceland on Saturday (March 16) as another volcanic eruption rocked the Reykjanes Peninsula, a little over 80 km southwest of the capital Reykjavík in what is the fourth such eruption in the region since December 2023.

A state of emergency was declared in southern Iceland on Saturday (March 16) as another volcanic eruption rocked the Reykjanes Peninsula, a little over 80 km southwest of the capital Reykjavík in what is the fourth such eruption in the region since December 2023. Residents of the small town of Grindavik were asked to evacuate as ongoing flare-ups continued to wreak havoc in the area. Additionally, the popular tourist attraction, the Blue Lagoon, has been evacuated as a precautionary measure. A massive lava spill is generating billows of smoke, creating a spectacle for onlookers. Iceland volcanic eruption: When did it happen? The eruption commenced after 20:00 local time (20:00 GMT) on Saturday, between Hagafell and Stora-Scogfell, north of Grindavik, according to Iceland's civil defence service. This eruption occurred at the site of the eruption of 8 December. Volcano erupts for fourth time on Iceland peninsula pic.twitter.com/pE0UADg0Sy — T (@Rifleman4WVU) March 16, 2024 × Footage capturing the volcanic eruption depicts clouds of smoke and molten magma flowing and bubbling from vents in the earth's surface. The Icelandic Meteorological Agency reported a brief lead-up to the eruption and indicated that initial assessments suggest a comparable volume of magma to that of December's event. However, the agency cautioned that expected adverse weather conditions could hinder monitoring efforts to some degree. Also read | Iceland volcano is ejecting enough lava to fill olympic swimming pool in 20 seconds While Keflavik International Airport and other regional airports remain unaffected, the closure of the Blue Lagoon will continue until further notice as a safety precaution. Iceland's airspace remains open. Iceland has 33 active volcano systems Approximately 4,000 residents of Grindavik were only recently been permitted to return to their homes after an eruption in January, which resulted in magma infiltrating the town and destroying three homes. However, reports by the AFP news agency indicate that only around 100 residents have opted to return thus far. Iceland, with 33 active volcano systems, straddles the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the boundary between two of Earth's largest tectonic plates. The Reykjanes Peninsula last experienced a period of volcanic activity 800 years ago, which lasted for decades. The current eruption marks the seventh since 2021. (With inputs from agencies)

Video: Iceland volcano spews fountains of lava as massive eruption prompts state of emergency

<p>Authorities in Iceland on Friday (Nov 10) declared a state of emergency after a series of powerful earthquakes rocked the country's southwestern Reykjanes peninsula. Experts believe that the recent quakes could be a precursor to a volcanic eruption.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Icelandic Met Office (IMO) has detected more than 20,000 tremors since late Oct with 1,400 in the 24 hours to midday on Thursday as the quakes appear to increase.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management said in a statement: "The National police chief … declares a state of emergency for civil defence due to the intense earthquake (activity) at Sundhnjukagigar, north of Grindavik."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/global-warming-has-upped-greenland-glacier-melting-five-folds-in-20-years-657471">Global warming has upped Greenland glacier melting five-folds in 20 years</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>The administration further warned that an eruption could take place "in several days" as it said that "earthquakes can become larger than those that have occurred and this series of events could lead to an eruption".&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Department of Civil Protection also said it was sending the patrol vessel Thor to the village of Grindavik, home to around 4,000 people and located some three kilometres southwest of the area where Friday's earthquake swarm was registered,&nbsp;"for security purposes".&nbsp;</p>

<p>The local authorities have also come up with evacuation plans in case of an eruption and the police closed a road running north-south to Grindavik on Friday after it was damaged by the tremors.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/rare-discovery-tumor-with-teeth-found-in-3000-year-old-egyptian-burial-657424">Rare discovery: Tumour with teeth found in 3,000-year-old Egyptian burial</a></strong></p>

<p>Two powerful earthquakes were felt as far away as Reykjavik, Iceland's capital and along much of the country's southern coast around 1730 GMT. The IMO officials have said that the preliminary figures suggest that the biggest tremor had a magnitude of 5.2, north of Grindavik.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The IMO said that there is an accumulation of magma is underground at a depth of about five kilometres and if it starts moving towards the surface it could lead to a volcanic eruption.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The most likely scenario is that it will take several days rather than hours for magma to reach the surface," it said.</p>

<p>"If a fissure were to appear where the seismic activity is at its highest now, lava would flow to the southeast and to the west, but not towards Grindavik."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Climate change and volcanic eruptions&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<h2><strong>Volcanoes in Iceland</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Three eruptions have occurred on the Reykjanes peninsula since 2021, in March 2021, August 2022, and July 2023. These three eruptions were in remote places with no infrastructure or people.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Overall, Iceland has 33 active volcanic systems, which is the highest number in Europe. The North Atlantic island straddles the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a crack in the ocean floor separating the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates.</p>

<p>Prior to the March 2021 eruption in an uninhabited area around Mount Fagradalsfjall, the Reykjanes volcanic system had remained dormant for eight centuries.</p>

<p>But now, volcanologists believe the new cycle of increased activity could last for several decades or centuries.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A huge eruption at another Iceland volcano, Eyjafjallajokull in the south of the island, in April 2010, forced the cancellation of 100,000 flights, stranding more than 10 million people.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>


Authorities in Iceland on Friday (Nov 10) declared a state of emergency after a series of powerful earthquakes rocked the country's southwestern Reykjanes peninsula.

Authorities in Iceland on Friday (Nov 10) declared a state of emergency after a series of powerful earthquakes rocked the country's southwestern Reykjanes peninsula. Experts believe that the recent quakes could be a precursor to a volcanic eruption. The Icelandic Met Office (IMO) has detected more than 20,000 tremors since late Oct with 1,400 in the 24 hours to midday on Thursday as the quakes appear to increase. The Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management said in a statement: "The National police chief … declares a state of emergency for civil defence due to the intense earthquake (activity) at Sundhnjukagigar, north of Grindavik." Also read: Global warming has upped Greenland glacier melting five-folds in 20 years The administration further warned that an eruption could take place "in several days" as it said that "earthquakes can become larger than those that have occurred and this series of events could lead to an eruption". The Department of Civil Protection also said it was sending the patrol vessel Thor to the village of Grindavik, home to around 4,000 people and located some three kilometres southwest of the area where Friday's earthquake swarm was registered, "for security purposes". The local authorities have also come up with evacuation plans in case of an eruption and the police closed a road running north-south to Grindavik on Friday after it was damaged by the tremors. Also read: Rare discovery: Tumour with teeth found in 3,000-year-old Egyptian burial Two powerful earthquakes were felt as far away as Reykjavik, Iceland's capital and along much of the country's southern coast around 1730 GMT. The IMO officials have said that the preliminary figures suggest that the biggest tremor had a magnitude of 5.2, north of Grindavik. The IMO said that there is an accumulation of magma is underground at a depth of about five kilometres and if it starts moving towards the surface it could lead to a volcanic eruption. "The most likely scenario is that it will take several days rather than hours for magma to reach the surface," it said. "If a fissure were to appear where the seismic activity is at its highest now, lava would flow to the southeast and to the west, but not towards Grindavik." Watch: Climate change and volcanic eruptions × Volcanoes in Iceland Three eruptions have occurred on the Reykjanes peninsula since 2021, in March 2021, August 2022, and July 2023. These three eruptions were in remote places with no infrastructure or people. Overall, Iceland has 33 active volcanic systems, which is the highest number in Europe. The North Atlantic island straddles the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a crack in the ocean floor separating the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. Prior to the March 2021 eruption in an uninhabited area around Mount Fagradalsfjall, the Reykjanes volcanic system had remained dormant for eight centuries. But now, volcanologists believe the new cycle of increased activity could last for several decades or centuries. A huge eruption at another Iceland volcano, Eyjafjallajokull in the south of the island, in April 2010, forced the cancellation of 100,000 flights, stranding more than 10 million people. (With inputs from agencies)

Over 20,000 tremors since late Oct: Iceland declares state of emergency over volcanic eruption threat

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Video: Iceland volcano spews fountains of lava as massive eruption prompts state of emergency

Over 20,000 tremors since late Oct: Iceland declares state of emergency over volcanic eruption threat