ERUPTION CONSIDERED LESS SEVERE
Geophysicist Benedikt Ofeigsson told RUV the eruption appeared smaller than previous ones and was well-situated, as it was not close to any critical infrastructure.
A risk assessment released on Tuesday had predicted no new eruptions before the autumn. The last eruption in the area occurred in April.
When the first eruption hit in late 2023, most of Grindavik’s 4,000 residents were evacuated. Since then, nearly all of the town’s homes have been sold to the state and most residents have relocated.
LONG-DORMANT VOLCANIC REGION REAWAKENS
The Reykjanes peninsula had remained dormant for eight centuries until a period of increased seismic activity began in March 2021. Volcanologists have since warned that the region may be entering a new era of regular volcanic activity.
The latest eruption was not expected to impact international air travel, RUV said.
In contrast, a 2010 volcanic eruption in another part of Iceland caused widespread disruption after volcanic ash grounded flights across Europe.
Iceland sits atop the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a tectonic boundary that separates the Eurasian and North American plates. It is home to 33 active volcanic systems, the most of any country in Europe.
Source: CNA
