Iceland Volcano Erupts Near Capital After A Strong Earthquake Struck

After a strong earthquake struck Iceland on Sunday, a volcano erupted near the country's capital.

In a video posted by The Wall Street Journal, lava and a massive cloud of smoke can be seen emanating from the Fagradalsfjall volcano.

The smoke was visible from the road that connects the capital to the international airport.

The volcanic activity began early Monday afternoon at 4:40pm GMT, around 30 kilometers from Reykjavik. This came after a 5.2 magnitude earthquake hit the country.

The IMO, the country's Meteorological Office, said that the eruption started in the northwest of Litli Hrutur mountain.

"Last night a M 5.2 earthquake was detected just ESE of Mount Keilir. This event is the largest one in the current seismic activity. Aftershocks are very likely and can reach up to M4," the statement added.

Low intensity, effusive eruption

Experts anticipated an approaching explosion after 1,500 minor quakes were recorded days prior to the eruption.

Thorvaldur Thordarson, Professor in Volcanology at University of Iceland, told the Associated Press that they observed a low intensity and effusive eruption.

The academician explained that the three fissures with lava are "basically running in all directions"

This means "it is not causing widespread threats due to explosive activity" but "if the eruption continues for long enough it could be a threat to infrastructure."

So far, the Keflavík International Airport remained open and no flights were affected.

Authorities warned people not to trek to the volcano because dangerous high levels of volcanic gases could be gathering close to the eruption.

"It is not a little hike," said Kristin Gudmundsdottir, a natural hazard specialist at the Met Office. "We need to wait and see how the eruption develops."

The IMO experts are set to examine where the lava is erupting and how the eruption is progressing.

Three eruption for the past two years

The Reykjanes Peninsula is a volcanic and seismic hotspot that can be found at the southwest of Reykjavik, Iceland's capital.

In March 2021, lava fountains erupted from a 500 to 750 meters long fissure in the ground of the Fagradalsfjall volcanic system, this volcanic activity lasted for six months.

A three-week eruption occurred in the same location in August 2022.

These two eruptions attracted thousands of visitors wanting to capture the rare view of an active volcano.

Prior to the said eruptions, the region had remained dormant for eight centuries, but volcanologists predicted that the new cycle of heightened activity will endure for several years.

Geophysics professor Magnús Tumi Guðmundsson observed that the lava that flows from the volcano goes south and has a long way to go down to the road.

"We can say that considering the possible effects, this is not an unfortunate place for an eruption. This can change," he told Mirror.

Iceland has been known to be the most active volcanic system in Europe. It erupts every five years on average.

Following the massive eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in April 2010, almost 10,000 flights were cancelled leaving 10 million passengers stranded in Iceland.

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