LONDON — Scientists preparedfor the eruption of a volcano in southwestern Iceland for weeks, so when it occurred on Monday night, it was no surprise. The area hadactually been active for more than 2 years and thousands of little earthquakes rattled the location in current weeks.
Here is a appearance at what tookplace and what might be ahead:
It began at about 10: 20 p.m. regional time on Monday north of Grindavik, a fishing town of 3,400 individuals on the Reykjanes Peninsula. The town is about 50 kilometers (30 miles) southwest of Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik, in an location recognized broadly as Fagradalsfjall volcano.
First there was a series of little earthquakes. Then lava that’s around 1,200 C (nearly 2,200 F) started putting out of a crack about 4 kilometers (2½ miles) long.
The Icelandic Meteorological Office approximated that hundreds of cubic meters of lava per 2nd streamed out in the veryfirst 2 hours of the eruption, though the activity had considerably decreased by Tuesday afternoon.
In brief, no — researchers had anticipated the eruption for numerous weeks and in November, authorities left Grindavik after thousands of little earthquakes shook the location for more than 2 weeks.
Scientists stated their keepstrackof revealed that a passage of lava, or semi-molten rock, was dispersing towards the town and might reach the surfacearea imminently.
The neighboring Blue Lagoon geothermal resort, one of Iceland’s best-known traveler destinations, had to close momentarily as a safetymeasure after a magnitude 4.8 earthquake hit the location last month.
Fagradalsfjall hadactually been inactive for around 6,000 years, however it flared to life in March 2021, when hundreds of individuals gathered to the Reykjanes Peninsula to see amazing lava streams that lasted for months. The red radiance from the lava might be seen from the borders of the capital.
None of the current eruptions on the Reykjanes Peninsula triggered damage or disturbances