Iceland volcano erupts again, molten rocks spew from fissures | CNN

Iceland experienced another volcanic eruption on Thursday, marking the second eruption this year, with lava shooting up to 80 meters (260 feet) into the air. It is the sixth eruption on the southwestern Reykjanes peninsula since 2021.
Live footage from the area showed streams of bright-orange molten rock bursting from openings in the ground against the backdrop of the dark night sky.
The country’s meteorological office issued a warning about the volcanic eruption occurring north of Sylingarfell.
The eruption was preceded by intense earthquake activity around 5:30 a.m. and started about 30 minutes later.
The fissure where the eruption occurred was approximately 3 kilometers (2 miles) long, and it was believed to be in the same location as a previous eruption on December 18.
The nearby geothermal spa, Blue Lagoon, was closed as a result of the eruption.
The previous eruption in the area occurred on January 14 and lasted about two days, leading to the evacuation of nearly 4,000 inhabitants of the Grindavik fishing town, where some houses caught fire due to lava flows. The latest eruption, however, was unlikely to pose a direct threat to the town, according to Icelandic geophysicist Ari Trausti Gudmundsson.
The Reykjanes peninsula has experienced fissure eruptions, known as Icelandic-type, which typically do not result in large explosions or significant ash production that spreads into the stratosphere.
The Reykjavik’s international Keflavik airport continued to operate normally despite the eruption, according to airport operator Isavia.
In November, Icelandic authorities began constructing dykes to redirect flowing lava away from homes and critical infrastructure. Despite the reduction in the volcanic system’s threat level, local authorities cautioned about potential further eruptions as land continued to rise due to underground magma accumulation.
Iceland, with more than 30 active volcanoes, is a popular destination for volcano tourism, attracting thousands of adventurers due to its nature as a prime location for volcanic activities.

Author: OpenAI