On Tuesday, a volcano in Iceland erupted, sending molten lava into the sky. The eruption occurred in southwest Iceland after weeks of earthquakes in the region. While the volcano’s activity may be at a lower degree, it is still considered dangerous.
David Pyle, an Earth Science professor at Oxford University, confirmed the ongoing volcanic eruption’s intensity. Pyle stated that the eruption rate is likely a few hundred cubic meters of lava per second, equivalent to filling an Olympic swimming pool in about 20 seconds. The length of the fissure created by the eruption may indicate the amount of magma accumulated in the crust over the preceding weeks.
The eruption took place three kilometers from Grindvik, a fishing port in Iceland, leading to evacuations. The eruption began on Monday at 2217 GMT, according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office. The Svartsengi geothermal plant, located two kilometers away, was closely monitored, as it supplies electricity to 30,000 people. Authorities had reinforced the plant to protect it from potential damage.
Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir expressed cautious optimism on Facebook, stating, “We hope for the best, but it is clear this is a considerable eruption.”
Iceland’s meteorological office estimates that the volcanic eruption resulted in a fissure about four kilometers in length (2.5 miles). By 3 am local time, the eruption had stabilized, and the activity was decreasing. As of the latest reports, there was no immediate estimate for how long the eruption might continue.
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