Early on Thursday morning, Iceland was again hit by an earthquake with a subsequent volcanic eruption.
NRK meets Sólný Pálsdóttir from Grindavík on the Reykjanes Peninsula. She has been evacuated from her home since the last outbreak on January 13, and is constantly reminded of how precarious their lives are.
AT THE BLUE LAGOON: The timelapse video shows how the lava is approaching, while people work to stop it.
VIDEO: RUV
– I have to be honest, I wasn’t surprised. We have been waiting for it for a while, says Pálsdóttir about Thursday’s outbreak.
– But it’s always a bit strange, because it’s also a relief. You live with the knowledge that it could erupt under your own house. Today it seems like it came at the best possible place, says Pálsdóttir.
– «Fight or flight»-livet
Pálsdóttir says it is difficult to adapt to life in Reykjavík, where they stay while they are evacuated, when you are used to the quiet everyday life in Grindavík.
– I had hoped that we could go back this spring. Now I just have to accept that I’m not going back there for at least a year, says Pálsdóttir.
Sólný Pálsdóttir describes a sense of relief every time a new lava eruption does not destroy her house in Grindavik.
Photo: Silja Björklund Einarsdóttir / NRK
She says the most difficult thing about the situation is the uncertainty.
– This “fight or flight” life in Grindavík already began four years ago. It wears on the nerves.
The eruption subsides
There are many indications that the eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula has subsided, says Benedikt Ófeigsson, head of seismic measurements at the Icelandic Meteorological Institute on Thursday afternoon.
– We saw this morning that the eruption did not subside as quickly as last time, as if it had been under pressure for a short period, and that is why the power of the eruption has been so great for so long. But everything indicates that it has started to decrease, he says according to RUV.
Facts about the volcanoes in Iceland
Expand/minimize fact box
- Iceland has around 130 volcanic mountains and 33 active volcanic systems – the highest number in Europe.
- 18 of the volcanoes have erupted since the settlement of Iceland began in the 8th century.
- One of the most active volcanoes, Hekla, has had over 20 eruptions since the 11th century.
- In April 2010, an eruption in the volcano under the Eyjafjallajökull glacier caused air traffic over most of Europe to be paralyzed.
- The small town of Grindavik was evacuated before an eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula in December 2023.
- A new eruption on 14 January caused lava to flow into Grindavik and destroy several buildings.
(Sources: NTB and AP)
The eruption now appears to be limited to two or three craters. The lava also no longer rises with the same high pressure. The chance of new craters opening now is therefore smaller, writes RUV.
Seismic activity has also calmed down since the earthquake early this morning.
Several without hot water
Several places on the peninsula are now without hot water after the lava destroyed the hot water pipe Njarðvíkuræðin this afternoon.
According to Morning newsdie a state of emergency has been declared.
The water pipes have collapsed and steam is rising from the area.
The lava flow has moved more to the south and flows over Grindavíkurveg, where there is an entrance to the Blue Lagoon.
RUV
Kristinn Harðarson in HS energi says the situation has changed very quickly in a short time.
– We have hot water for the next few hours, and remedial measures have been initiated. But it will take at least one day to reconnect the pipes, says Harðarson to RUV.
Residents in the area have been told to save on hot water use. Otherwise, the hot water will disappear within 3 to 6 hours.
Rationing of electricity
Restrictions have been introduced on the use of electric heating. Each household can only use one electric oven to avoid overloading the grid.
In the morning, residents flocked to the store to buy electric stoves. This afternoon it is sold out on the Reykjaneshalvøya. Work is underway to transport more ovens from stores in Reykjavík.
LIVE: The images show the volcanic eruption in Iceland right now.
The high-voltage lines that supply Grindavík with electricity have started to burn, and the evacuated town will probably be without electricity in a short time.
The Civil Defense has been told to increase preparedness.
Reports are coming from Sandgerði, Garði and Keflavik that the hot water is already gone, according to the report The morning paper.
It also affects the airport, which is now without hot water. So far, it has not had an impact on operations.
Tall lava columns
The eruption started around 6 a.m. local time, after it began with earthquake activity half an hour earlier.
According to the Meteorological Institute, the lava columns stand 50–80 meters into the air, and the cloud rises 3,000 meters into the air.
The fissure is about three kilometers long and runs from Sundhnúkur in the south to the east end of Stóra-Skógfell.
The lava flow has moved more to the south and flows over Grindavíkurveg, where there is an entrance to the tourist attraction The Blue Lagoon. The geothermal spa, which is one of Iceland’s most visited attractions and hotels, was evacuated during the morning, writes RUV.
– Is in a bad position
The Norwegian geologist Børge Wigum has lived in Iceland for over 30 years. He lives 3 miles from the eruption and stands on the veranda and watches when NRK calls on Thursday morning.
– Daylight is starting to come now. I see a large column of steam and smoke from the same place where there was an eruption on 18 December last year, says Wigum.
GEOLOGIST: Norwegian Børge Johannes Wigum lives in Iceland.
He believes it is the same magma chamber under the Blue Lagoon that is emptying now.
After the drama with several outbreaks in recent months, he is unsure whether Grindavik will be habitable in the future.
– I think Grindavik is probably in a bad position in the long term because of all the fracture systems. Whether it will ever be habitable again is difficult to say. Right now it looks uncertain, says Wigum
It is the sixth eruption at Reykjanes since 2021.
LAVA: The live image from 06.45 shows the lava flaming up.
PHOTO: RUV