After a period of heightened seismic activity that damaged homes and raised fears of an imminent eruption, the town of Grindavik in Iceland was evacuated by police in November. On Monday night, a volcanic eruption commenced on the Reykjanes Peninsula, approximately 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) from Grindavik, turning the sky orange and triggering a high alert by the civil defense. Webcam footage from the scene reveals magma spewing along the ridge of a hill.
The Icelandic Meteorological Office is monitoring the situation, and a coast guard helicopter is set to confirm the exact location and size of the eruption. Grindavik, a fishing town with a population of 3,400, is situated on the Reykjanes Peninsula, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) southwest of Reykjavik and in close proximity to Keflavik Airport, Iceland’s main international flight facility. Due to the volcanic threat, the popular tourist attraction, the Blue Lagoon geothermal resort, has been temporarily closed at least until the end of November.
