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A volcano in southwest Iceland has erupt without admonish for the fourth time in four months , opening up massive , fervent fissures in the ground — potentially the largest it has bring forth to date . The extravasation spewed out a river of liquified rock ‘n’ roll that narrowly missed the townsfolk of Grindavík .
The eruption poses no immediate jeopardy to local mass . However , if the lava flow arrive at the sea , which is still possible , it could create a giant plume of toxic gas that would be " life - minatory " to anyone near the shoring , experts warn .
Lava flows from the eruption narrowly missed the fishing town of Grindavík but could reach the sea.
The volcano is a rough 9 mile - recollective ( 15 kilometers ) magma tunnel that runs beneath the land , stretching northwards from Grindavík toward Sundhnúk in the Reykjanes Peninsula . When the concealed magma receive too close to the surface , it breaks through , spark long and minute fissures that violently spit out lava , ash tree and smoke . The most extreme natural action does not last for long , but the resulting lava can travel for several mil , burn anything in its path before eventually cool down .
The volcano firsterupted in December last yearafter weeks of seismic activity and ground contortion , before burn out its topagain in January this year . Another eruptionbegan on Feb. 6 , and lasted for just over a week .
On Saturday ( March 16 ) , the volcano suddenly erupted for a fourth time at around 8 p.m. local fourth dimension with almost no warning . This prison term , lava discover through in three freestanding piazza , creating two fissure between Hagafell and Stóra - Skógfell , according to a translated statement from theIcelandic Met Office ( IMO ) .
Map shows the extent of lava 5 hours after the eruption in orange. The red outline shows how far the lava had moved by approximately 3 p.m. on March 17.
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The largest crack is around 1.8 miles ( 2.9 klick ) long , which is around the same size as the previous volcanic eruption , IMO reported . However , Iceland’sCivil Protectionestimates that the mix length of the latest fissures could be up to 2.5 miles ( 4 km ) long , which would make the eruption the bounteous since volcanic body process in the realm restarted in 2021 .
Magnús Tumi Guðmundsson , a professor of geophysics at the University of Iceland , toldIcelandic news site RÚVthat this eruption was the vent ’s " most powerful " to date . The eruption is still ongoing at both chap , but the charge per unit of magma exit has now reduced to between 2 % and 5 % of the original outpour , he add .
Volcano enthusiasts gathered to watch the eruption on Saturday night (March 16).
A lava period from the smaller fissure total within about 1,000 feet ( 300 meters ) of Grindavík ’s perimeter defenses , which were raise during the first eruption , but is now impress away from the townsfolk and toward the coast , according to the IMO .
If lava does touch the shoring , rapid chilling of the molten rock’n’roll could release hydrochloric acid gas , IMO representatives wrote . In high doses this colourless accelerator can corrode the skin , eyes and respiratory nerve pathway , go to long - endure injuries or even decease , harmonize to theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention .
" In a r of about 500 m [ 1,640 feet ] from the point where lava would fall into contact with the sea , condition would be life-time - threatening , " IMO representative wrote . The threat to living diminish the further away from the shoring the gas reaches , and beyond 2 miles ( 3 kilometer ) it is unlikely that anyone would be in danger , they tote up .
The eruption turned the night sky orange across the Reykjanes Peninsula.
Grindavík lies within the toxic gasoline ' possible peril zone . However , amajority of the town has been evacuatedand the remaining residents have beenwarned to stay out .
It is still undecipherable if the lava will reach the ocean . As of Sunday ( March 17 ) , the lava flow was only around 2,000 feet ( 600 meters ) from the coast and is expected to get even closer by the end of Monday ( March 18 ) , harmonise to the IMO . But it is retard down .
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The eruption that began on March 17 has now slowed, but lava is still creeping slowly towards the ocean.
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At its peak , the liquified rock and roll was trip at around 985 feet per hour ( 300 meters per hour ) but has since slowed down to around 39 invertebrate foot per time of day ( 12 metre per time of day ) , IMO reported .
If lava reaches the ocean, it would release toxic gas, the IMO has warned.
There are also suggestion that the lava may have start to pool behind a rocky outcrop , which may slow it down even further , RÚV account .
" It is nevertheless of import to be prepared for this scenario , " Civil Protection representatives write in astatement .
look-alike from the latest eruption can be seen below :
The latest eruption is the largest in terms of magma discharge since volcanic activity began in December.
Authorities evacuated Grindavík and the Blue Lagoon tourist resort following the eruption.
The two fissures that opened up between Hagafell and Stóra-Scógfell are the latest in a series of eruptions in the Reykjanes Peninsula.
