This is a developing story and will be updated with more information.
Over the weekend, Iceland experienced its second volcanic eruption in just under a month. Both eruptions took place near Grindavik, a fishing town of about 4,000 people located on the southwestern tip of Iceland, approximately 26 miles from the capital of Reykjavik.
On January 14, lava began spewing from a fissure located on the Reykjanes Peninsula just before 8 a.m. local time, according to Iceland’s public broadcaster RUV. A few hours later, a second fissure opened, intensifying the eruption. As of Tuesday morning, there were no signs of further lava flow, according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office.
Due to the direction of the lava flow, Sunday's eruption has caused more physical damage than December's. At least three homes in Grindavik were burned to the ground, RUV reports. Other damages like snapped water pipes and broken heating systems were still being assessed by officials on Tuesday. Roads in the area buckled, and piles of cooled and hardened magma could be seen in front yards and other residential areas, according to photos from local reporters on the scene. Fortunately, the town successfully evacuated the night before, meaning no lives were in danger at the time of the eruption, Iceland’s president said Sunday in a statement.
Because Grindavik is not a popular tourist destination, the second eruption has had little impact on travel plans to Iceland. Additionally, flights into or out of Iceland have not been affected. The country, nicknamed the "land of fire and ice," is well versed in dealing with frequent volcanic activity—this is the fifth eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula in the past three years. That said, it can still be question-raising for visitors with upcoming trips. Here's what travelers to Iceland should know about the latest eruption, and how it could impact a visit.
Travel advisories
Iceland's January eruption does not pose an immediate threat to people living on or visiting the island, according to the Icelandic Prime Minister's Office. But the government is still warning people not to approach the area, which is still under a state of emergency and closed to all civilians and residents. Iceland’s government has been helping to arrange temporary housing for displaced Grindavik residents. “Authorities request people stay away from the area and do not attempt to walk to the eruption site,” the Icelandic Tourism Board says. "All roads to the area are closed."
The US Embassy in Iceland suggests Americans with plans to travel to Iceland to “monitor local news and government websites for detailed information and to follow Civil Protection instructions,” per a January 14 statement. Embassy officials also advise Americans to avoid the area of the eruption and follow the instructions of Icelandic authorities and Icelandic Civil Defense. Updates are available on RUV’s website and on the government of Iceland’s official website. Travelers can also download the SafeTravel app for updates on the nation’s road conditions and other news for tourists from the Icelandic Association for Search and Rescue.
Flight disruptions
There have been no disruptions to flights to and from Iceland as a result of the eruption, according to the Government of Iceland. Roads to Keflavík International Airport are unaffected, and all international flight corridors remain open.
Unlike Iceland's 2010 eruption that grounded thousands of flights, eruptions in the Grindavik area, such as these, are not expected produced large clouds of volcanic ash (which pose the greatest risk to air travel) due to the geographic location of the fissures, Snorri Valsson, Project Manager at the Icelandic Tourist Board, told RUV in November.
Overall, officials don't expect the latest eruption to have an effect on air travel. “The impact of volcanic eruptions tends to be limited to specific, localized areas near the eruption site,” the tourism board said after the first eruption in December. “Notably, previous eruptions in the area did not impact air travel to and from the country.”
Site closures
Following the January eruption, one of Iceland's iconic tourist attractions has shut down once again. The Blue Lagoon thermal spring, which is located on the Reykjanes peninsula less than three miles from Grindavik, is closed to visitors. The popular geothermal spa will remain fully shuttered until Thursday January 18, according to its website. The lagoon has been closed on and off since the threat of an eruption was first detected in November. All guests with upcoming bookings will be contacted, the statement said. (The Blue Lagoon first halted operations on November 9, when a major uptick in seismic activity was detected.)
How to help residents
The Red Cross is raising money for the affected residents. Donations will be allocated directly to residents in Grindavik to help rebuild homes and meet other immediate needs. The organization has assembled a special allocation committee—made up of representatives from the Red Cross, the town of Grindavik, and the local priest in Grindavik—to ensure the funds reach people in need, RUV reports.
A developing situation
While there were no signs of further lava flow as of Tuesday morning, and “seismic activity continues to decrease” as per the IMO, about 200 small earthquakes were detected on Monday night, which means magma is still moving. “At this point, it is premature to declare that the eruption is over,” the IMO said. “Considerable hazards persist in the area.”
Experts first began detecting a surge in seismic activity in the area in late October, with a series of thousands of small earthquakes recorded along an underground magma corridor, leading officials to declare a state of emergency in Grindavik on November 10. Since then, it’s been a waiting game to see when exactly an eruption would occur, giving authorities plenty of time to prepare to handle the fissures belching lava.
On average, Iceland experiences a volcanic event every five years. "Iceland has been formed by a series of volcanic eruptions across millions of years and its culture has been shaped and even improved by it," Chris Gordon, a travel specialist with Icepedition, tells Traveler. "Some upsides of volcanism include clean geothermal energy for power plants, as well as hot springs, hot rivers and even hot waterfalls to enjoy."
This story has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
