A volcano located 20 miles southwest of the capital of Iceland, which had been dormant for about 6,000 years, finally erupted on Friday after weeks of earthquakes in the region.
Air scenes from the Icelandic Meteorological Office showed the Fagradals Mountain volcano on the Reykjanes Peninsula spitting out sources of fiery lava on Friday night that lit up the night sky. The brightness of the glowing lava can be seen on the outskirts of the capital of Iceland Reykjavík, according The Associated Press.
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The Reykjanes Peninsula is a volcanic and seismic hot spot where more than 40,000 small earthquakes have occurred in the past four weeks, a significant increase from up to 3,000 earthquakes recorded each year since 2014.
The eruption is the first that the peninsula has seen in almost 800 years. A crack up to 820 meters long opened at the eruption site and spewed lava sources up to 110 meters high, according to Reuters.
Authorities advised nearby residents to stay at home and keep windows closed to avoid breathing in the pollution from the gas expelled by the volcano.
A new video of the eruption in the Geldingardalur valley, on the Reykjanes peninsula. Taken from the Coast Guard helicopter. #Reykjanes #Eruption #Fagradalsfjall pic.twitter.com/B862heMzQL
– Icelandic Meteorological Office – IMO (@Vedurstofan) March 19, 2021
This is Fagradalsfjall. It is about 15 miles south of Reykjavik and has just erupted. You can start practicing your pronunciation:
Foie-gras-thals-fiat-ill
Have a good time#Iceland #volcano pic.twitter.com/IYFHQMzWsx– RAGNAR ÆGIR / Music by Ragnar (@rfjolnisson) March 19, 2021
This video, made on a drone by Bjorn Steinbekk from #Fagradalsfjall eruption of the volcano in #Iceland, it is absolutely insane. @MacLeanComms @thejohnrourkehttps://t.co/37gSITSrvs pic.twitter.com/XA8zA4Wzx5
– Peter Leung (@BaronVonClutch) March 22, 2021
The Icelandic Meteorological Office classified the eruption as small and said it did not pose an immediate danger to people in the area. No evacuation was necessary and no structure was in danger of being damaged.
“Gas pollution can be expected due to the eruption in Reykjanes, closer to the source. Gas distribution is from the northeast of the eruption sites towards the capital area, but gas concentrations are unlikely to be dangerous there, ” the Icelandic Meteorological Office said Monday.
Air traffic was able to continue normally and flights remained on schedule, as the eruption did not release much ash or smoke into the atmosphere. In 2010, Iceland experienced a more disturbing eruption that expelled molten ash in the sky that affected travel for weeks and forced hundreds of Icelanders to leave their homes.
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