A volcanic eruption in southwestern Iceland appears to have subsided, but scientists have warned that more eruptions could occur in the region in the coming months.
The Icelandic Meteorological Office announced late Thursday that the size of the eruption had decreased significantly.
Incredible video captures volcanic eruption just a few miles from Iceland’s capital
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the eruption began at around 6 a.m. local time on Thursday in the area northeast of Mount Seelingarfell. This prompted the eviction of the popular Blue Lagoon hot springs spa and cut off heating and hot water supplies to several communities on the Reykjanes Peninsula in the island’s southwestern corner.
Lava crosses the main road to Grindavik, Iceland, on February 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Marco Di Marco)
“Although the scale of the eruption has decreased significantly, it is still too early to declare whether it has ended,” the Japan Meteorological Agency said on Friday, adding it was continuing to closely monitor the area.
Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdóttir said authorities hoped to restore hot water to the area by midday on Friday, state broadcaster RUV reported.
The eruption site is about 3.5 miles northeast of Grindavik, a coastal town of 3,800 people that had been evacuated before the previous eruption on Dec. 18. The town was not threatened by Thursday’s eruption.
Geophysicist Benedikt Ofeigsson from the Icelandic Meteorological Agency told RUV that the region could see eruptions almost every month for the next few months.
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“In the long term, it’s hard to say, but in the short term, magma intrusions and eruptions will probably repeat over the next few months,” he said.
