OSLO—A volcano erupted on the Reykjanes peninsula in southwest Iceland, near the capital Reykjavik, on Monday, following severe seismic activity in the area, according to the country's Meteorological Office (IMO).
"At the moment, it's a very small eruption," said Matthew Roberts, director of the IMO's service and research division. He also stated that there was no immediate threat to anyone in the area.
The international Keflavik airport in Reykjavik was not affected, according to the airport's website.
Over the next several hours, IMO experts will examine where the lava is erupting and how the eruption is progressing.
The IMO said that it was verified at 16:40 GMT.
Local news outlets MBL and RUV broadcasted images and livestreams of lava and smoke erupting from a crack in the earth on the slope of the Fagradalsfjall mountain.
The Reykjanes Peninsula is a volcanic and seismic hotspot southwest of Reykjavik, Iceland's capital. Lava fountains erupted magnificently from a 500-750 meter (1,640-2,460 foot) long crack in the earth in the Fagradalsfjall volcano system in March 2021.
The area's volcanic activity persisted for six months that year, attracting thousands of Icelanders and visitors. A three-week eruption occurred in the same location in August 2022.
Prior to those two eruptions, the system, which is around 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) broad and 19 kilometers long, had been dormant for more than 6,000 years.
Unlike the Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption in 2010, which grounded over 100,000 flights and displaced hundreds of Icelanders, this eruption is not expected to spew much into the atmosphere.
“This is not a volcanic eruption with any ash. This is simply lava,” Mr. Roberts said.
