Warning to holidaymakers after Icelandic volcano erupts again

Satellite images show the extent a volcanic fissure has reopened on Iceland’s Reykjanes peninsula, sending rivers of molten lava coursing across the landscape and threatening one of the country’s most iconic tourist destinations. The eruption, which began on the evening of November 20, comes after more than two months of relative quiet in the area.

According to the Icelandic Meteorological Office, earthquakes preceded the eruption, signalling the activity beneath the surface. Just hours after the fissure opened, the VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) on the Suomi NPP satellite captured dramatic nighttime images. The eruption’s glow outshone even the lights of Reykjavík, the Icelandic capital.

The initial eruption site was located near the Stóra Skógfell peak along the Sundhnúkur crater row—close to the site of a similar eruption in February this year. Imagery from the Landsat 9 satellite, taken on November 24, revealed the scale of the event, with infrared overlays highlighting the intense heat of the lava flows.

A plume of sulfur dioxide gas rose from the fissure, but flights to and from Iceland were unaffected. Lava from the eruption spread east and west, sparing the nearby town of Grindavík but forcing some residents to evacuate. The Blue Lagoon, a world-renowned geothermal spa, was also evacuated.

A stream of lava engulfed the spa’s car park, destroying a small service building. The eruption is the seventh in a series that began in December 2023. While activity has slowed in recent days, with lava movement towards the Blue Lagoon diminishing, the spa remains closed as a precaution.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, emphasising the unpredictability of volcanic activity in the region.