Satellite images have revealed the extent of a volcanic fissure that has reopened on Iceland’s Reykjanes peninsula, causing rivers of molten lava to flow across the landscape and posing a threat to one of the country’s most popular tourist spots. The eruption began on the evening of November 20, following over two months of relative calm in the area.
The Icelandic Meteorological Office reported that earthquakes had preceded the eruption, indicating subterranean activity. The VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) on the Suomi NPP satellite captured striking nighttime images just hours after the fissure opened, with the glow from the eruption outshining even the lights of Reykjavík, Iceland’s capital.
The initial eruption site was located near the Stóra Skógfell peak along the Sundhnúkur crater row, close to the location of a similar eruption in February this year. Images from the Landsat 9 satellite taken on November 24 showed the scale of the event, with infrared overlays emphasising the intense heat of the lava flows.
A plume of sulfur dioxide gas rose from the fissure, but flights to and from Iceland were not affected. Lava from the eruption spread both east and west, sparing the nearby town of Grindavík but leading to some residents being evacuated.
The world-famous Blue Lagoon geothermal spa was also evacuated. A torrent of molten lava has swallowed up the car park of a spa, obliterating a small service building in its path. This eruption marks the seventh in a sequence that kicked off in December 2023.
Although the volcanic activity has decelerated recently, with the lava’s advance towards the Blue Lagoon slowing down, the spa is still shut as a safety measure. Officials are keeping a close eye on the situation, underlining the unpredictable nature of the region’s volcanic activity.