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Hundreds evacuated from top Icelandic tourist spot as volcano erupts spewing out river of lava

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Hundreds of people have been evacuated from an Icelandic tourist hotspot following a volcanic eruption. 

The eruption, close to the popular Blue Lagoon thermal spas, occurred on the southeast of the island on Wednesday night.

According to the The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) the volcanic activity started on the Sundhnukagigar fissure outside the village of Grindavik at 11.14pm. 

The small fishing village situated, on the Reykjanes Peninsula, is just three miles from the Blue Lagoon. 

Spectacular images broadcast live from the volcano showed red-orange lava gushing from a long fissure surrounded by thick smoke. 

IMO specialist Benedikt Ofeigsson told public radio RAS2 that no infrastructure was currently threatened, but about 200 people were evacuated from Grindavik. 

Volcanoes on the peninsula had not erupted for 800 years until March 2021 when a period of heightened seismic activity began. 

Since then volcanologists have warned that volcanic activity in the region had entered a new era. 

According to the The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) the volcanic activity started on the Sundhnukagigar fissure outside the village of Grindavik at 11.14pm

The Blue Lagoon has announced it will be closed today following the eruption.  Over 700,000 visitors take a dip in the areas famous thermal spas every year. This is almost double the entire population of the small island nation

The Blue Lagoon has announced it will be closed today following the eruption.  Over 700,000 visitors take a dip in the areas famous thermal spas every year. This is almost double the entire population of the small island nation

Spectacular images broadcast live from the volcano showed red-orange lava gushing from a long fissure surrounded by thick smoke

Spectacular images broadcast live from the volcano showed red-orange lava gushing from a long fissure surrounded by thick smoke

The latest eruption is smaller than the last one, at the end of August, the IMO said in a statement.

‘The outpourings are lower and the lava is not flowing as fast,’ added Ofeigsson.

Most of Grindavik’s 4,000 residents were evacuated a year ago, shortly before the first volcanic eruption in the area.

Since then, almost all the houses have been sold to the state, and the residents departed.

‘About fifty houses were occupied in recent nights,’ said the civil protection department.

In January, during another eruption, three houses in the village were engulfed by flames.

The Blue Lagoon has announced it  will be closed today. A statement on their website reads: ‘Due to a volcanic eruption that commenced in Sundhnúksgígar on November 20, we took the precautionary measure of evacuating and temporarily closing all our operational units. 

The small fishing village situated, on the Reykjanes Peninsula, is just three miles from the Blue Lagoon

The small fishing village situated, on the Reykjanes Peninsula, is just three miles from the Blue Lagoon 

Volcanoes on the peninsula had not erupted for 800 years until March 2021 when a period of heightened seismic activity began. Since then volcanologists have warned that volcanic activity in the region had entered a new era

Volcanoes on the peninsula had not erupted for 800 years until March 2021 when a period of heightened seismic activity began. Since then volcanologists have warned that volcanic activity in the region had entered a new era

‘Blue Lagoon will be closed today, Thursday, November 21, we will reassess the situation throughout the day.’

Over 700,000 visitors take a dip in the areas famous thermal spas every year. This is almost double the entire population of the small island nation. 

Iceland is home to 33 active volcanic systems, more than any other European country.

It is located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a fault in the ocean floor that separates the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates and causes earthquakes and eruptions.

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