Iceland volcano on Reykjanes peninsula erupts multiple times

A volcano in Iceland's Reykjanes peninsula has erupted five times since December. The eruption happened near the capital Reykjavik, where 30,000 people live. The volcano started erupting after a series of earthquakes near Grindavik, a town of 3,800 people that had to be evacuated. Lava shot up to 50 meters high from a fissure that is about 1.5 miles long and getting longer. The Blue Lagoon thermal spa, a popular tourist spot, was evacuated before the eruption. Iceland has around 400,000 people and is located above a volcanic hotspot in the North Atlantic. Authorities had warned about possible volcanic activity in the area due to magma building up underground. To protect important places like a geothermal power plant, the Blue Lagoon spa, and Grindavik, barriers were set up to redirect the lava flow. Previous eruptions caused evacuations, disrupted heating systems, closed roads, and destroyed houses in Grindavik. This recent eruption is the eighth on the Reykjanes peninsula since 2021, showing that geological systems are becoming active after 800 years of dormancy. The eruption highlights the challenges Iceland faces as scientists predict more eruptions in the Reykjanes area for many years to come.