On March 19 2024, a volcano in Iceland erupted. It’s the fourth time since December that a volcano has erupted in southwest Iceland. The Icelandic authorities have announced a state of emergency after a new volcano crack on the Reykjanes Peninsula erupted with lava. The volcano erupted between Stora Schoffel and Haga fell on the Reykjanes Peninsula. Live video footage displayed glowing lava and thick smoke. Iceland civil protection and emergency management dispatched a helicopter to pinpoint the precise location of the new fissure. The police declared a state of emergency in response to the eruption. The eruption, according to the IMO, occurred near the site of the previous eruption on the 8th of February. Lava seemed to be moving south towards protective dykes near the fishing village of Grindavik.
Pictures of volcano eruptions
Around 4,000 residents of Grindavik were permitted to go back home on February 19. However, only approximately 100 individuals opted to retire following the evacuation on November 11th. During the previous evacuation, numerous tremors caused damage to buildings and created extensive fissures in roads. A volcanic fissure emerged on December 18, but Grindavik was spared. In January, a fissure appeared at the town’s border, leading lava to flow into the streets and destroying three houses, followed by a third eruption near the village on February 8th. By Friday, over 300 residents of Grindavik had requested to sell their homes to the state. The eruptions on the Reykjanes Peninsula have raised concerns about the Svartsengi power plant, which serves electricity and water to around 30,000 individuals in the region. The plant was evacuated and had been operated remotely since the initial eruption, with protective dykes erected to safeguard it.
In conclusion, as the region continues to monitor and manage the aftermath of the eruptions, it underscored the unpredictable yet awe-inspiring power of nature and the need for continued vigilance and support for those affected.
Sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOk3IUSUd2M
https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/30/europe/iceland-volcano-eruption-grindavik-intl-hnk/index.html
https://www.foxweather.com/extreme-weather/iceland-volcano-erupts-grindavik-may-2024