A volcano erupted in Iceland’s Reykjanes peninsula on Wednesday, prompting a state of emergency for thousands of nearby residents.
Videos shows the massive lava blast in the southwestern Iceland region and an evacuation at the famed Blue Lagoon spa, which will remain closed at least until Friday.
Experts warned volcanic activity was possible after recent studies uncovered the accumulation of magma underground.
Lava escaped from a 2.1-mile long fissure and blasted more than 160 feet into the air, the Icelandic Meteorological Office said. The molten rock flowed somewhere between 52,000 and 70,600 cubic feet per second, the office said.
The lava extended to defensive walls near the fishing town Grindavík, less than 2 miles from the site of the eruption. Officials are hopeful the walls will hold off the lava, according to national public broadcaster RÚV.
Eruption causes explosions, gas pollution
Lava has flowed over roads and blocked the majority of routes, Iceland’s Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management wrote on Facebook.
Wind direction is expected to head southwest where gas pollution is possible in the capital area through Thursday, the IMO forecasted.
“Explosive activity began when the magma came into contact with groundwater where a lava flows into a fissure,” IMO wrote. “The magma causes the water to be quickly converted into gaseous state (steam), causing steam explosions and tephra fall (ash).”
Officials shut down electricity in Grindavík to prevent the the possible destruction of high-voltage line, RÚV reported. The decision was made as a precautionary measure as the lava could have caused significant damage to a power plant if it made contact with the line.
The peninsula has grappled with five volcanic eruptions since December and around nine in the past few years, according to the Icelandic government. Eruptions in Iceland typically occur every five years have significantly increased since 2021, the government said in December.
Contributing: Cybele Mayes-Osterman