Iceland volcano erupts again in same area with people told to evacuate

A volcano in southwestern Iceland began erupting in the early hours just weeks after the Fagradalsfjall volcano blew.

According to footage from Iceland’s public broadcaster, RÚV, lava fountains were spotted soaring up into the air just shy of 8am local time.

The country’s national weather service had earlier detected 200 earthquakes at the Sundhnúksgígar crater row, with the tremors slowly making their way to the evacuated town of Grindavík.

‘Our assessment is that the possibility of an eruption is high,’ the Icelandic Met Office said in a 6.15am update, ‘and that it could occur imminently.’

This is the fifth volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula, the country’s most populated region, since 2021.

The Svartsengi volcanic system blew on December 18, leading to around 4,000 people in Grindavík being evacuated and the Blue Lagoon closed.

The fishing town was spared after the lava raced in a different direction – it is unclear which direction the lava from the most recent eruption is flowing.

Residents have been ordered once again to evacuate by the country’s civil defence agency.

This is a developing news story, more to follow soon… Check back shortly for further updates.

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