A volcano on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula erupted again on Wednesday, spewing lava and smoke into the air in what officials say is the twelfth eruption in the region since 2021.
Authorities have evacuated families, hotel guests, and tourists from Grindavík, the nearby Blue Lagoon resort, and other surrounding areas as a precaution.
The eruption in the Sundhnúkur volcano on the Reykjanes Peninsula, which began early Wednesday, is the 12th since volcanic activity reawakened in the region in 2021.
According to Iceland’s meteorological office, magma forced through the crust opened a fissure between 700 and 1,000m long.
“(It does) not threaten any infrastructure at this time,” the office said, adding that GPS and deformation data suggest it was a relatively small eruption.
Grindavík, which once housed nearly 4,000 people, was evacuated last year and remains largely empty due to ongoing volcanic risk.
Despite the dramatic lava flows, no disruption to flights at Keflavík airport has been reported.
The eruption is the latest in a growing sequence of volcanic events on the Reykjanes Peninsula, which began when dormant systems were reactivated in 2021 after centuries of silence.
This is what we know so far about the Sundhnúkur eruption in Iceland
- A volcanic eruption began early on Wednesday near Sundhnúkur crater on the Reykjanes Peninsula, southwest Iceland.
- Lava is flowing from a fissure estimated to be 700–1,000 metres long, according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO).
- Authorities evacuated Grindavík, the nearby Blue Lagoon resort, and surrounding areas as a safety measure.
- No infrastructure has been damaged so far, and there is currently no threat to populated areas.
- The eruption has not affected flights at Keflavík International Airport, operations are continuing as normal.
- This marks the 12th eruption in the Reykjanes region since 2021, part of a prolonged volcanic cycle.
- Experts warn that similar eruptions may continue in the region over the coming months or years.
Stuti Mishra16 July 2025 10:30
This is the 12th eruption in the region since 2021
The latest eruption is part of a broader pattern of seismic activity that reawakened the Reykjanes Peninsula in 2021 after centuries of dormancy. Since then, the area has seen repeated volcanic events, with fissure eruptions now becoming a near-annual phenomenon.
Experts say Iceland is now in a new volcanic cycle, with magma expected to keep surfacing in the region for years or even decades.
Stuti Mishra16 July 2025 10:10
Current eruption is relatively small, officials say
Iceland’s latest volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula is not considered a major event, according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office.
The fissure, located near Sundhnúkur crater, measures about 700 to 1,000 metres long, but officials say the eruption is relatively small, with lava flowing steadily to the southeast, away from critical infrastructure.
“There is no immediate threat to populated areas or key services,” the IMO said, adding that deformation data and GPS readings suggest limited magma output.
Civil defence authorities have evacuated surrounding areas as a precaution, but most of the disruption is localised.
Unlike explosive eruptions that produce large ash plumes, this is a low-ash fissure eruption, meaning it’s unlikely to affect air travel or trigger widespread fallout.
Similar eruptions have occurred on the peninsula repeatedly since 2021 as part of a longer volcanic cycle.
Stuti Mishra16 July 2025 09:52
Air travel remains normal following Iceland volcano eruption
Flights at Reykjavík’s Keflavík International Airport are unaffected following the volcano eruption.
Flight radar and airport communications show no cancellations or diversions, and airlines including Icelandair, easyJet, and PLAY are operating as scheduled. The eruption does not project ash into the stratosphere, so international routes remain clear, officials say.
Despite ongoing lava flows near Grindavík, experts say this eruption’s low-ash nature means it’s unlike the previous disruptive events which have grounded flights.
Stuti Mishra16 July 2025 09:42
Blue Lagoon evacuated as Sundhnúkur erupts
Iceland’s Blue Lagoon geothermal spa and nearby Grindavík were evacuated early today after Sundhnúkur volcano reactivated.
Civil defence teams have evacuated hotel guests, campers, and residents as a precaution, officials said.
The Blue Lagoon resort is one of the most luxurious and renowned hotels in the region, famous for its geothermal spa.
The eruption came from a 700–1,000 m fissure on the Reykjanes Peninsula.
Officials have described this as a small disruption as lava flows southeast, away from key infrastructure. However, this marks the 12th eruption in the region since 2021, part of a prolonged volcanic cycle that could last decades.
Stuti Mishra16 July 2025 09:41
Iceland volcano erupts opening up 1km-long fissure
A volcano on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula erupted again on Wednesday, spewing lava and smoke in what officials say is the twelfth eruption in the region since 2021.
The eruption prompted fresh evacuations from the nearby town of Grindavík, a luxury hotel, and the popular Blue Lagoon spa, Icelandic authorities said.
The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) said magma pushed through the earth’s crust, opening a fissure estimated to be between 700 and 1,000 metres long.
Stuti Mishra16 July 2025 09:06
