Iceland volcano erupts as lava flows from two-mile crater on Reykjanes peninsula

Former Icelandic president Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson posted an astonishing picture of the eruption overshadowing the fishing town of Grindavik.

The now Chairman of Arctic Circle added: “Although the eruption is for now in a safe distance from Grindavik as the photo shows, the long fissure with burning lava is geologically in potentially the most dangerous location.”

The eruptive fissure is about 4km long, with the northern end just east of Stóra-Skógfell and the southern end just east of Sundhnúk.

The distance from the southern end to the edge of Grindavík is almost 3 km.

This is the precise location of the volcanic eruption that took place at 10.17pm last night.

Iceland’s Lava Centre said it looks like the 4km fissure is on a northern sloping area so the lava is flowing towards the north away from the fishing port of Grindavík.

The mayor of Grindavik has expressed his relief that the volcanic fissure didn’t open up in the middle of his fishing town.

Fannar Jónasson told reporters: “Considering the situation, this is good news, but of course, an eruption so close to a settlement is very serious.

“We will have to see how the progress will be, but at the moment there is no magma or lava threatening settlements.”

“It can be said that this is a relief compared to the situation that prevailed during the period when there was a possible risk of magma coming up right under the town.

“A magma tunnel ran under Grindavík and to the sea. Considering that it will flare up there, it relieves the pressure that has been under there, then this is a relief”.

Two hours of webcam footage of the eruption have been condensed into a spectacular one minute by X user Jake Heitman.

The time-lapse shows the lava spreading through the crater forming just 4 miles north of the evacuated town of Grindavik.

This was some of the first footage as a volcano erupted on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula, turning the sky orange and putting the country’s civil defence on high alert.

The eruption appears to have occurred about 4 kilometres (2.4 miles) from the town of Grindavik, the Icelandic Meteorological Office said.

The town was evacuated in November after strong seismic activity damaged homes and raised fears of an imminent eruption.

Shaky video from a helicopter shows the huge eruption still billowing lava and toxic gases into the night sky.

As the eruption spread, magma, or semi-molten rock, could be seen spewing along the ridge of a hill.

The Icelandic Government has said the volcanic eruption along a 4km crater presents “no threat to life” as the nearest town Grindavik had already been evacuated as a precaution.

A spokesman did say the risk to infrastructure is being monitored but there are no disruptions to international aviation.

He added: “Please be advised that this eruption is releasing considerable toxic gases and people are strongly advised against visiting the site of the eruption while responders and scientists assess the situation.

“This eruption follows intense seismic activity over the past few days, and is classified as a fissure eruption (often referred to as Icelandic-type).

“Fissure eruptions do not usually result in large explosions or significant production of ash dispersed into the stratosphere.”

Icelandic Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir has released a statement thanking emergency services who have protected the public from the possible eruption since November 10.

The chair of the Left Movement said: “Now we see the Earth open up and can thank all our amazing responders and scientists who have guarded this area in recent weeks and months.

“Defense parks are far gone that will be able to make a significant difference but I recommend a bill for authorisation to build such parks immediately after evacuation.

“Our thoughts are with the locals now as ever, we hope for the best but it can be clear that this is a considerable eruption.

“It is important to give responders space to do their work and follow traffic instructions.”

Clive Stacey, founder of the leading Iceland specialist travel firm Discover The World, said: “There is a potential for the lava to flow to enter Grindavik sometime in the future, although it is expected a wall will be constructed to try and divert the flow away from the town.

“The Blue Lagoon and geothermal power plant are already protected by such a wall. As things stand this is not a ‘tourist eruption’ in its present phase and sightseers have been warned to stay away from the area.

“At Discover The World our thoughts are with the people of Grindavik at this very difficult time. Suffice to say that the town was evacuated long before this latest eruption took place.

“The eruption has also had little impact on flights to and from Keflavik airport, save for a standard closing of airspace for around an hour after the start of the eruption, to assess danger to air travel.”

Geophysicist Björn Oddson spoke to reporters to describe the results of scientists after their previous flight over the eruption in the Coast Guard’s helicopter.

He said the eruption was well-located as it erupted at Sundhnúk far enough away from the town which evacuated 4,000 residents on November 10.

“This is just over 4km long crack that extends over Vatnaskil towards Grindavík. We hope it does not extend further south. The lava goes primarily to Fagradalsfjall.”

Live stream cameras caught the moment the eruption sent lava shooting into the sky.

The Grindavik volcano blew on Monday lighting up the pitch-black night in southwest Iceland.

“Eruption has started north of Grindavík, north of Sundhnukur,” the Icelandic Met Office said, adding that the eruption began just a few kilometres north of the fishing town which was earlier evacuated following scores of earthquakes.

Authorities said a helicopter would be going in the air shortly to “confirm the exact location and size of the eruption”.