The Icelandic town of Grindavík and the nearby Blue Lagoon tourist attraction were evacuated following a volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula, marking the 11th eruption since 2021. The eruption began at 6:30 AM local time at the Sandommukul Crater, with magma and lava quickly spreading into the area. By 10 AM, lava had reached a defense wall north of Grindavík, prompting warning sirens and a complete evacuation of the town, which had been lightly populated since a previous eruption in November 2023 that created deep cracks in the ground.
The Icelandic Weather Service reported increased volcanic activity and warned that further eruptions could occur. Most of Grindavík’s 3,800 residents had already dispersed due to safety concerns, while some businesses had returned. The Blue Lagoon successfully evacuated its operations as a precaution. Iceland’s tourism authorities reassured that while the area is closed and monitoring for gas pollution is ongoing, there is no immediate threat to the population. Despite the recent disruptions, tourism appears to be recovering, with an increase in international arrivals and hotel stays compared to the previous year.
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