Volcano wakes up in Iceland after recent earthquakes. Photos and videos
A volcano erupted southwest of the Icelandic capital Reykjavik on Tuesday, December 19. All this is happening amidst seismic activity in recent weeks.
The eruption occurred on the Reykjanes Peninsula near the fishing town of Grindavik. The authorities have been preparing and evacuating thousands of people from the potential threat zone in recent weeks, including the Blue Lagoon geothermal resort, known for its turquoise waters, Radio Liberty reports.
Reykjavik International Airport remains open as of now.
Since October, thousands of earthquakes have been recorded on the Reykjanes Peninsula, which is considered a likely harbinger of an upcoming volcanic eruption.
Iceland straddles the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a crack in the ocean floor that separates the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. In fact, it is located above a hot volcanic point in the North Atlantic.
Eruptions occur here on average every four to five years. The most devastating eruption in recent times was the 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajökull.