A volcano near Iceland's capital, Reykjavik, began erupting again on Monday, marking the third eruption in the area in less than two years. The Icelandic Meteorological Office reported the eruption started near Litli-Hrútur mountain, part of the Fagradalsfjall volcanic system, following increased seismic activity. While the initial eruption was described as more explosive than the previous two in 2021 and 2022, activity lessened by Tuesday morning.
Authorities warned of high levels of gas pollution around the eruption site, advising against approaching the area until a safety assessment could be conducted. Despite the warnings, the eruption drew spectators eager to witness the natural spectacle of flowing lava and gas plumes emerging from a half-mile-long fissure.
Geophysics professor Magnús Tumi Guðmundsson from the University of Iceland expressed relief at the reduced eruption intensity, noting it was “very good news.” Although the eruption could continue for an extended period, he suggested the scale would likely remain smaller than the initial outburst. The 2021 eruption in the same area lasted for several months, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors.
Iceland experiences volcanic eruptions relatively frequently due to its location on a North Atlantic volcanic hotspot. The 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajokull volcano caused significant disruption to air travel across Europe due to the massive ash cloud it released, grounding flights and impacting millions of travelers. So far, the current eruption has not caused any flight disruptions at Keflavik Airport, Iceland's main international airport.
