Iceland volcano continues to erupt on Reykjanes peninsula

In a statement, the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) said it had recorded intense seismic activity on the northeastern flank of the Sylingarfell volcano at 5:30 a.m. on February 8 (local time). About 30 minutes later, the volcano began to erupt. Live video footage from the scene showed lava flowing from a crack about 3 km long, lighting up the night sky.

Previously, also on the Reykjanes Peninsula, there were two volcanic eruptions near the fishing village of Grindavik on December 18, 2023 and January 14. Authorities have issued an evacuation order for people in the area.

Before the March 2021 eruption, the Reykjanes Peninsula had not experienced an eruption in eight centuries. Eruptions in August 2022, July 2023 and December 2023 have led volcanologists to believe that this could be the beginning of a new era of volcanic activity in the region.

Iceland is a volcanic hotspot in the North Atlantic, with more than 30 active volcanoes. On average, Iceland experiences a volcanic eruption every four to five years. The most recent major eruption occurred in 2010 when the Eyjafjallajokull volcano spewed ash into the air, disrupting transatlantic air travel for months.