Massive Volcano Eruption Rocks Southwest Iceland

Volcano Eruption in Southwest Iceland

A massive volcano erupted early Tuesday morning in southwest Iceland following tens of thousands of earthquakes in the Reykjanes Peninsula near Reykjavík.

Volcanologist Thorvaldur Thordarson expressed concerns about the eruption’s proximity to major infrastructure, stating, ”We are looking at a worst-case scenario.” Officials are particularly worried about the nearby Svartsengi geothermal power plant.

Unprecedented Power and Size

Social media is buzzing with footage of immense lava plumes shooting into the sky. Nature photographer Thrainn Kolbeinsson, based in Iceland, described it as ”way bigger and more powerful than the last few eruptions.”

A jaw-dropping aerial shot from a coast guard helicopter showcases the colossal wall of lava illuminating the nighttime scene. Some of the lava fountains reach heights of up to 330 feet and are even visible from Reykjavík’s center.

According to Thordarson, the highest plumes could be as tall as 492 feet.

Thankfully, the town of Grindavík had been evacuated weeks prior due to increased seismic activity. Cracks in the ground and a recent 4.2 magnitude earthquake prompted the evacuation.

A Recent Series of Eruptions

This is the fourth eruption to hit the Reykjanes Peninsula in just three years. It is believed that the catalyst for the volcanic activity was the aforementioned earthquake on Monday evening.

Source: Massive Icelandic Volcano Erupts, Spews Lava Hundreds of Feet Into the Air