A new volcanic eruption has occurred on Iceland’s Reykjanes peninsula, marking the sixth such event in the region since December.
The eruption began on August 22, with hot lava spewing from a lengthy fissure, according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO).
Local media broadcast live footage of streams of orange lava lighting up the night sky as thick smoke rose into the air.
The eruption, which started at 9:26 pm (2126 GMT) at SundhnúksgÃgar, was preceded by a series of earthquakes, the IMO reported.
Although the full extent of the fissure is still under evaluation, this latest eruption comes just two months after the previous one, which lasted more than three weeks. The Reykjanes peninsula, in southwestern Iceland, has seen increased volcanic activity since March 2021, following eight centuries of dormancy, according to AFP.
As a precaution, authorities have started evacuating the nearby fishing village of GrindavÃk, as they did during previous eruptions. The number of residents currently in the area is not yet known.
