Iceland recently witnessed a wonderful event when a massive volcano erupted after nearly eight centuries of silence. The volcanic eruption took place in Reykjanes Peninsula in southwest Iceland, making it the region’s seventh volcano this year. The Reykjanes peninsula was dormant for 800 years before volcanic activity resumed in 2021, according to a BBC report.
The eruption has gone viral on the internet, with amazing photos circulating on social media. One of the most stunning aerial videos was taken by a passenger named Kaylee from an airplane window. She posted it on X, which attracted more than six million views. Kaylee wrote: “My life has peaked. Nothing can ever surpass that. A volcano erupted in Iceland last night.”
Aerial images show the scale of the eruption, with rivers of bright orange lava flowing across the dark terrain, casting a faint glow on nearby residential areas.
According to reports, the eruption of the dormant volcano not only set the Internet on fire, but also prompted evacuations in the nearby town of Grindavik and the Blue Lagoon, which is a popular tourist destination. The Icelandic Meteorological Service said the eruption covered an area of about 1.8 miles.
Helsinki, Nov 21 (IANS) A volcanic eruption on Iceland’s Reykjanes peninsula has prompted evacuations, local media reported.
The video posted on X has received mixed reviews on social media. One X user congratulated Caylee: “Congratulations on the opportunity to witness this. I went back last year to see it. Definitely the coolest experience of my life. I don’t think anything will ever top it. I missed it by 2 days. I left on Monday night. Another user expressed concern by commenting: “Flying so close? With ashes? To be honest, it’s a big risk for me.” Meanwhile, other reactions praised the surreal beauty, with comments like: “Wow, this is unreal. Thanks for showing us this” and “Awesome. Iceland truly is the land of ICE AND FIRE. It’s surreal.”
Volcano Eruption in Iceland (Credits: X)
According to reports, the eruption does not pose a threat to air travel. However, authorities are warning of emissions affecting parts of the peninsula, including Grindavik. This nearby town was also previously evacuated when the volcano reawakened after an 800-year period of dormancy.
According to the Icelandic Meteorological Department, “magma ascent and accumulation beneath Svartsengi continues. However, GPS measurements have shown signs that the rate of ascent may have slowed in recent days. It is too early to draw any definitive conclusions as to whether these changes indicate a slowdown in magma inflow “.
