Thousands forced to evacuate as Iceland volcano erupts, Blue Lagoon spa evacuated

A volcano in Iceland erupted on Wednesday, shooting hot lava 50 meters into the air. This was the fifth eruption since December. The eruption happened shortly after an eight-week long eruption on the same Reykjanes peninsula ended. The lava was shooting from a fissure that was about 2.5km long and growing. The Blue Lagoon thermal spa was evacuated before the eruption started. The spa has been closed several times recently due to seismic activity in the area. Authorities had warned about the risk of volcanic activity in the area near Reykjavik. Studies showed that magma was building up underground. Flights at Reykjavik’s Keflavik airport continued as usual. The eruption highlighted the challenges faced by Iceland as scientists warned of possible repeated eruptions in the area for decades or even centuries. The eruption caused disruptions in district heating, closed roads, and destroyed homes in the town of Grindavik. Man-made barriers were built to protect infrastructure from the lava flow. Iceland is known as the "Land of Fire and Ice" due to its unique landscape and position between tectonic plates. The eruption began in the afternoon following earthquakes near Grindavik. The eruption led to the evacuation of the Blue Lagoon spa and the town of Grindavik. Iceland is experienced in dealing with volcanic eruptions as it sits above a volcanic hot spot in the North Atlantic. The recent eruptions indicate a reawakening of the Svartsengi volcanic system after almost 800 years of dormancy. The future activity and impact on the Reykjanes Peninsula remain uncertain.