Volcano Erupts in Southwest Iceland

A volcano erupted in southwest Iceland on Wednesday, marking the latest in a series of eruptions that have affected the region since 2021, according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office.

Iceland, a North Atlantic island nation known for its dramatic landscapes shaped by glaciers and volcanoes, has now experienced 12 volcanic eruptions in just four years.

These eruptions are typically characterized by lava emerging from long fissures in the Earth’s crust rather than explosive activity from a central crater.

The latest eruption occurred in the Reykjanes Peninsula, a geologically active area near the capital Reykjavik. 

While visually striking, these events have so far posed no direct threat to the capital and have not produced significant ash clouds in the stratosphere or caused disruption to air traffic.

However, the nearby fishing town of Grindavík remains largely abandoned. Once home to nearly 4,000 residents, the town was evacuated in 2023 due to persistent threats from lava flows and earthquake swarms linked to the volcanic unrest.