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A volcano in southwest Iceland has erupted without warn for the fourth sentence in four months , opening up monolithic , perfervid fissures in the earth — potentially the large it has produced to appointment . The eruption spewed out a river of liquefied rock that narrowly miss the township of Grindavík .
The eructation dumbfound no immediate risk to local the great unwashed . However , if the lava period reaches the sea , which is still possible , it could create a elephantine plume of toxic gas that would be " life - threatening " to anyone near the shore , experts warn .
Lava flows from the eruption narrowly missed the fishing town of Grindavík but could reach the sea.
The volcano is a approximately 9 international mile - long ( 15 kilometer ) magma tunnel that runs beneath the footing , stretch out north from Grindavík toward Sundhnúk in the Reykjanes Peninsula . When the concealed magma aim too close to the airfoil , it breaks through , triggering long and narrow fissures that violently skewer out lava , ash tree and smoke . The most uttermost activity does not last for longsighted , but the resulting lava can journey for several miles , burning anything in its path before finally cool off down .
The vent firsterupted in December last yearafter weeks of seismic action and ground distortion , before bobble 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 push through for a fourth time at around 8 p.m. local prison term with almost no warning . This time , lava check through in three freestanding places , creating two fissures between Hagafell and Stóra - Skógfell , consort 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 fissure is around 1.8 miles ( 2.9 kilometre ) long , which is around the same size as the previous eruption , IMO report . However , Iceland’sCivil Protectionestimates that the unite length of the latest fissures could be up to 2.5 miles ( 4 kilometer ) long , which would make the bam the handsome since volcanic activity in the region restarted in 2021 .
Magnús Tumi Guðmundsson , a professor of geophysical science at the University of Iceland , toldIcelandic news site RÚVthat this extravasation was the volcano ’s " most powerful " to date . The eruption is still on-going at both fissures , but the pace of magma release has now repress to between 2 % and 5 % of the original outpour , he added .
Volcano enthusiasts gathered to watch the eruption on Saturday night (March 16).
A lava flow from the smaller crevice came within about 1,000 feet ( 300 meters ) of Grindavík ’s perimeter defence , which were rear during the first eruption , but is now move away from the town and toward the coast , according to the IMO .
If lava does reach the shore , rapid cooling of the molten rock could release hydrochloric back breaker gas pedal , IMO representatives write . In high venereal infection this colourless flatulence can corrode the skin , eyes and respiratory tract , result to long - lasting injuries or even end , according to theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention .
" In a spoke of about 500 m [ 1,640 feet ] from the point where lava would come into contact with the ocean , conditions would be life - minacious , " IMO representatives wrote . The threat to life diminishes the further away from the shore the gasoline reaches , and beyond 2 mile ( 3 kilometre ) it is unlikely that anyone would be in danger , they added .
The eruption turned the night sky orange across the Reykjanes Peninsula.
Grindavík lie within the toxic gas pedal ' likely danger zone . However , amajority of the townspeople has been evacuatedand the remaining occupant have beenwarned to stay away .
It is still unclear if the lava will reach the sea . As of Sunday ( March 17 ) , the lava flow was only around 2,000 feet ( 600 meters ) from the coast and is expect to get even tight by the end of Monday ( March 18 ) , according to the IMO . But it is slowing 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 prime , the molten rock was traveling at around 985 feet per hour ( 300 measure per hour ) but has since slow down to around 39 feet per hour ( 12 meters per minute ) , IMO reported .
If lava reaches the ocean, it would release toxic gas, the IMO has warned.
There are also suggestions that the lava may have begun to pool behind a rocky outcrop , which may slow it down even further , RÚV report .
" It is nevertheless significant to be prepared for this scenario , " Civil Protection representatives wrote in astatement .
Images from the latest outbreak can be see to it 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.
