19 December 2023 , 15:56
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A huge volcanic eruption in Iceland has led the UK Foreign Office to issue a travel warning.
Fagradalsfjall volcano erupted in southwestern Iceland last night, sending a flash of light into the evening sky and spewing semi-molten rock into the air in a spectacular show of the Earth's power in the land known for fire and ice.
The eruption Monday night appears to occurred about four kilometres from the town of Grindavik, the Icelandic Meteorological Office said. The town near Iceland's main airport was evacuated in November after strong seismic activity damaged homes and raised fears of an imminent eruption.
Incredible footage taken from the air showed the dramatic natural phenomenon in which great plumes of fire reaching 100m into the air broke through the crust of the Earth, creating a lengthy crack filled with spewing lava.
Following the eruption the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office issued a warning which read: "A volcanic eruption started on the Reykjanes peninsula in south-west Iceland on the 18 December. The location is Sundahnúkagígar, 3km north of the town of Grindavík. All roads to Grindavík are closed and you should stay away from the area.
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"Keflavik International Airport is operating as normal, but you are advised to check for latest updates. The capital city Reykjavik, and the rest of Iceland has not been impacted by this eruption. You should monitor local media for updates and follow the authorities´ advice on travel to the area."
The fallout from the eruption was not expected to be as severe as the one in 2010, when the Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which blasted huge clouds of ash into the atmosphere and led to widespread airspace closures over Europe.
Experts had previously said that this eruption would not be as disruptive as the previous blast as Fagradalsfjall was not covered with ice as Eyjafjallajokull was, meaning the eruption was cooled, turning the dust cloud into tiny fragments that posed a threat to aircraft. Lava from Fagradalsfjall is much more likely to remain on the ground as it currently is.
It has still caused disruption however. Some 4,000 people fled after the volcano erupted overnight following weeks of preparations. Fiery lava made its way down the side of the volcano after it began erupting shortly after 10pm Icelandic time on Monday night near to the small fishing town of Grindavik.
A series of earthquakes were recorded in the evening, before grainy footage captured the flash of an eruption at the Sundhjuka crater at 10.17pm. Grindavik was evacuated last month after geologists predicted an imminent eruption due to heightened seismic activity, while a nearby power plant has also since been emptied and a wall built around it. The location of the magma fissure streaming down the volcano's side was not far from the Svartsengi power plant, locals said.