For more than two years, the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwest Iceland has grappled with the presence of active volcanoes. Volcanologists, anticipating eruptions since November following a series of earthquakes, saw an eruption over the weekend as the latest natural force impacting the evacuated town of Grindavík.
The Fagradalsfjall volcano erupted for the second time in less than a month on the morning of Sunday, Jan. 14. Molten lava breached defensive barriers on Monday, engulfing the small town of Grindavík and igniting several homes. This forced the second evacuation of the fishing village, housing nearly 4,000 people.
While no fatalities were reported, a worker is missing after allegedly falling into a crack opened by the volcano.
Iceland President Guðni Th Jóhannesson described the country as facing “tremendous forces of nature.”
Experts observed a significant decrease in volcanic activity since the initial eruption. Geologists highlighted magma corridors flowing beneath the abandoned town, emphasizing the impossibility of predicting the exact end of the volcanic activity.
This event marks the fifth eruption along the Reykjanes Peninsula since 2021.