December 18, 2023 Eruption of Reykjanes

Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) reported that a seismic swarm began near the older Sundhnukagigar crater row on the Reykjanes peninsula around 0230 on 14 January. A fissure eruption began at around 0757 just N of Grindavík, SE of Hagafell. Lava covered part of Grindavikurvegur road and overtopped a small area of the berm at the road, flowing south. A shorter second fissure opened at 1210 on 14 January to the SW of the first, about 200 m from the Efrahopi neighborhood in Grindavík. Lava flows traveled south, entering the town and setting at least three houses on fire. A man working on filling cracks in Grindavík fell into one of the cracks on 10 January and was unable to be located. Hundreds of rescue workers searched for the man but due to unsafe conditions and landslides occurring inside the crack the search was stopped on 12 January. (reference #13710)

January 15, 2024: A new lava eruption started on 14 January at 7:57 UTC, and the fissure opening was located southeast of Hagafell Mountain. The southernmost part of the fissureis about 900 m from the town of Grindavik. Lava flow towards the town is ongoing and at 12.10 UTC on 14 January, a new lava fissure opened, and the lava flow affected the northern part of Grindavik. Gas pollution from the eruption is spreading south and southwest. According to media reports, all the people living in the town of Grindavik have been evacuated for the second time - they were allowed to return to their homes on 22 December following the eruption of 18 December. In addition, some houses in the town have been burned by the lava flow as well as road 43 which connects the city with the airport and Reykjavik. In addition, the wall defenses built after the eruption in December have partially contained the lava, but some have been breached. (reference #13714)

December 18, 2023: At 22:17 UTC, a 4 km long volcanic fissure started erupting lava. The fissure is located in correspondence of the dyke intrusion that formed in November almost 3 km from Grindavík Town (Reykjanes Peninsula, south-western Iceland). (reference #13713)

November 30, 2023: As of 28 November, the Icelandic Civil Protection reports that the building of a defense wall around Svartsengi power plant is ongoing and 3,700 people are still evacuated from Grindavik. Moreover, electricity, drinking water networks, several houses and roads have been damaged. (reference #13712)

November 14, 2023: According to national authorities, at least 3,700 people living in Grindavík Towns have been preventively evacuated, boats are being evacuated from the harbour, several roads have been damaged (by earthquakes) as well as several water and power infrastructures and sewage. (reference #13711)

October 25, 2023: An intense earthquake swarm started near Svartsengi, north of Grindavik. (reference #13711)