A volcanic eruption has occurred in south-west Iceland for the second time this year.
The volcanic eruption began at 6 a.m. local time, northeast of Mount Selingarfell, according to national broadcaster RUV. Half an hour before the earthquake the intrusion of magma had begun north of the town of Grindavik.
Earlier on December 18, 2023, a volcanic eruption had started near this place. There is a 3 kilometer long crack in which lava is flowing towards the west. There is no immediate threat to Grindavik.
According to reports, the geothermal spa and the Blue Lagoon were evacuated on Thursday morning. The Blue Lagoon is one of the most popular attractions in Iceland.
Helga Arndtóttir is the Director of Sales, Operations and Services at Blue Lagoon. He told local media that all the guests who had come had been transferred to hotels in the cities of Keflavík and Reykjavik due to the situation.
According to media reports, Blue Lagoon remained closed on Thursday. The authorities had given orders to vacate Grindavik on 10 November 2023 itself. However, RÚV was told by Icelandic experts that there was no immediate threat to the fishing town.
