2024-01-14 17:34:39
A new volcanic eruption began on January 14 in the southwest of Iceland. The eruption affects the neighboring village of Grindavik, where several houses caught fire. Follow the latest information.
18:05
ALERT REPORTED
Following the announcement of a new eruption, Icelandic civil protection decided to raise the risk level in the area to “urgent”.
18:02
“PROTECT INFRASTRUCTURES”
On the social network X, the Icelandic president shared an aerial view of the eruption, ensuring that “measures were being taken to protect infrastructure”.
Aerial footage from the Icelandic Coast Guard shows the proximity of the lava flow to the town of Grindavík. Measures are being taken to defend infrastructure. pic.twitter.com/fM0JEYetNA — President of Iceland (@PresidentISL) January 14, 2024
17:56
“THE SAME STRENGTH FOR ABOUT AN HOUR”
In its latest weather report, the IMO said the current eruption had “remained at the same strength for regarding an hour.” With the new fissure from which lava is flowing that has reached Grindavik, “existing faults and fractures have been reactivated and new fractures have probably formed” in the city, evacuated overnight.
17:45
PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH
Following the new eruption in Iceland, President Gudni Johannesson is due to speak at 8 p.m. local time, or 9 p.m. in Paris, according to the public broadcaster RUV. Before this speech, a ministerial coordination committee meets at 5 p.m. in Iceland, or 6 p.m. in Paris.
17:22
AN UNINHABITED HOUSE
According to information from the town of Grindavík, the first house that was set on fire by the lava flow was not inhabited. The owner couple lived elsewhere in the city, in a house that was itself badly damaged by the November earthquakes.
17:20
AN ERUPTION TO FOLLOW
The Icelandic media RUV has installed a webcam to follow the progress of the new lava flow live.
17:12
TWO HOUSES ON FIRE
From a new fissure that appeared at midday, lava flowed which reached Grindavik, photographed below. Two houses caught fire on contact with the flow.
Following a new volcanic eruption near Grindavik, a lava flow reached the town, burning two houses, this Sunday January 14, 2024. – Halldor KOLBEINS / AFP17:02
REPORTAGE
Despite the dikes built to protect the city, the flows continue inexorably towards Grindavik. “We are not at all able to know when it will stop or if it will spare the city,” confides a French guide, present on site. A report can be found in the article below.
InternationalPublished today at 3:59 p.m.16:56
FIFTH ERUPTION IN THREE YEARS
This is the fifth volcanic eruption in Iceland in almost three years. The previous one took place on the evening of December 18 in the same area, located regarding forty kilometers southwest of the capital Reykjavik. These numerous eruptions are a sign, for volcanologists, of a resumption of volcanic activity in the region.
16:53
PLANES CAN STILL TRAVEL
In a message on the social network Furthermore, “flights are not interrupted,” said the president.
16:45
TWO CRACKS
The eruption started around 8 a.m. north of Grindavik, according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO). A first crack was created “on both sides of the defenses which began to be built to the north of Grindavík”, regarding 450 meters from the town.
At midday, the IMO announced that “a new fissure has opened just outside the city limits of Grindavik.” It was this which reached Grindavik, causing the two houses to burn. For the mayor of Grindavik, Fannar Jónasson, the new crack “creates a new situation” but “we can’t do anything”, deeming the situation worrying.
16:33
AERIAL PHOTOS OF THE COULÉES
The Icelandic media RUV published aerial photos of the lava flows, including the one that reached Grindavik.
Here you can see aerial photos of the two eruptions. Lava has reached Grindavík. Looking at the upper and longer fissure, you can see that the dikes seem to do a lot of good in controlling the lava flow. pic.twitter.com/HWbcoKWfsJ — RÚV Newsroom (@RUVfrettir) January 14, 2024
16:18
TWO HOUSES CAUGHT FIRE
The ongoing volcanic eruption in southwest Iceland has reached the port of Grindavik and two houses caught fire following being hit by lava, according to surveillance footage broadcast by public television. Last night, the few dozen residents who had resettled at the end of December in Grindavik were evacuated, a few hours before the start of the eruption.
A new volcanic eruption began in Iceland on the morning of Sunday January 14 north of the town of Grindavik. It follows a previous eruption in December in the same region, in the southwest of the country, according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO). It was during the night from Saturday to Sunday that the seismic activity accelerated sharply, prompting the rapid evacuation of the 4,000 inhabitants of Grindavik around 3 a.m., according to the Icelandic media.
Volcanic eruption, Iceland, December 2023 – VOGAR, ICELAND
The 4th eruption in two years
In fact, in December, scientists were unable to say whether the eruption was definitely behind them. “Volcanic activity appears to have stopped late yesterday night or early in the morning”the public agency indicated on December 22, in a press release, while adding: “Despite this, it is possible that lava is flowing below, in closed channels and therefore it is not possible to say that the eruption is over.”
This eruption, the fourth in two years, took place on the evening of December 18. The phenomenon began following a series of earthquakes, recorded three kilometers from Grindavik. The city was evacuated on November 11 following a significant accumulation of magma.
QC with AFP
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