By Isabelle Yr Carlsson and Tom Little
The eruption of a volcano in southwestern Iceland has led to the spewing of lava and smoke for a second consecutive day, as reported by the country's meteorological office. The eruption has resulted in the evacuation of a nearby luxury spa resort in the region.
Witnesses have observed fountains of glowing molten rock shooting into the night sky following Thursday's eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula. However, the flow of lava from the volcano has now slowed, according to Rikke Pedersen, the head of the Nordic Volcanological Centre.
"This is the typical pattern at the beginning of an eruption," she explained. "We initially see intense fountaining and high output, which then rapidly declines. However, this does not provide any indication of how long the eruption will last."
The initial rate of lava flow from the volcano was recorded at up to 2,000 cubic metres (70,600 cubic feet) per second. The current slower rate is now similar to the last eruption in May, Pedersen added.
The fissure in the volcano, which has erupted six times since December, has expanded to a length of up to 5 km (3.1 miles) during the day, up from 3.9 km (2.4 miles) late on Thursday, Pedersen stated.
The nearby Blue Lagoon luxury spa, a popular tourist destination known for its large outdoor pools heated by geothermal energy, was evacuated late on Thursday and remained closed on Friday, as per the resort's statement. Icelandic daily Morgunbladid reported that around 1,300 guests and staff were at the spa at the time of evacuation.
The meteorological office has cautioned that gas pollution resulting from the eruption may be carried by the wind towards the south and southeast regions. Despite this, the nearby fishing town of Grindavik, which had previously been threatened by burning lava and earthquakes during earlier eruptions, has not been directly impacted, according to the office. Pedersen also confirmed that lava flows had not reached a nearby road.
Furthermore, air traffic in and out of the capital's Keflavik Airport has not been affected, as confirmed on the airport's website on Friday.
(This story has been refiled to add the dropped words 'per second' in paragraph 4)
Analysis:
The ongoing eruption of a volcano in Iceland has caused the evacuation of a luxury spa resort and raised concerns about gas pollution and lava flows in the region. While the situation has not directly impacted air travel or the nearby town of Grindavik, it highlights the unpredictable nature of volcanic activity and its potential consequences for local communities and businesses. Tourists and residents in the area should stay informed about updates from the authorities and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety and well-being.