A volcano erupted on Tuesday night near Iceland’s capital Reykjavik, spewing red hot lava and plumes of smoke out of a fissure in an uninhabited valley. The eruption was the second one in the area this year, following a six-month-long eruption of Fagradalsfjall volcano that ended in September.
The eruption occurred in the Meradalir valley, about 40 km (25 miles) from Reykjavik, and was visible from the city. Lava gushed from the ground, reaching heights of 20-30 metres (65-100 feet) before spreading into a blackened field. The sound of the eruption was loud and could be heard from several kilometres away.
The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) said the eruption was small and posed no immediate danger to people or infrastructure. However, it warned of possible gas pollution from the volcanic gases, especially sulphur dioxide, and advised nearby residents to keep their windows closed. It also declared a “code red” to prohibit planes from flying over the site, although no major disruption to air traffic was expected.
The eruption came after a period of intense seismic activity in the region, with about 10,000 earthquakes detected since Saturday, including two with a magnitude of at least 5.0. Iceland is located on the boundary of two tectonic plates, which are drifting apart and causing frequent tremors and volcanic eruptions.
The last eruption in the area was about 800 years ago, according to geological records. The previous eruption of Fagradalsfjall volcano attracted thousands of tourists and spectators, who were mesmerised by the spectacle of lava flowing from the mountain. The new eruption also drew some curious onlookers, who braved the cold and the dark to witness the natural phenomenon.
Iceland is one of the most volcanically active countries in the world, with about 30 active volcanic systems. The most famous eruption in recent history was that of Eyjafjallajokull in 2010, which spewed ash into the atmosphere and disrupted air travel across Europe for several days.
