Hundreds of hikers evacuated after lava flows from Iceland volcano
David Matthews
A volcano in Iceland that began erupting in March opened a new fissure over the weekend, sending lava spewing and forcing hundreds of hikers to evacuate.
The ongoing eruption has already caused tens of thousands of earthquakes around the volcano, which is located about 20 miles from Reykjavík in the Geldinga Valley.
People watch as lava flows from an eruption of a volcano on the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwestern Iceland late on Monday, March 29, 2021. Iceland's latest volcano eruption is still attracting crowds of people hoping to get close to the gentle lava flows. The eruption in Geldingadalur, near Iceland's capital Reykjavik, is not seen as a threat to nearby towns and the slow flows mean people can get close to action without too much harm.
People watch as lava flows from an eruption of a volcano on the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwestern Iceland late on Monday, March 29, 2021. Iceland's latest volcano eruption is still attracting crowds of people hoping to get close to the gentle lava flows. The eruption in Geldingadalur, near Iceland's capital Reykjavik, is not seen as a threat to nearby towns and the slow flows mean people can get close to action without too much harm. (Marco Di Marco/)
The scene has actually drawn tens of thousands of tourists as well. However, a new fissure about the size of two football fields was spotted earlier Monday and led to the evacuation even though the Icelandic Department of Emergency Management said the fissure was located far away from hiking trails and was not considered life-threatening.
People watch the Lava flows from an eruption of a volcano on the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwestern Iceland on Wednesday, March 31, 2021. Iceland's latest volcano eruption is still attracting crowds of people hoping to get close to the gentle lava flows.
People watch the Lava flows from an eruption of a volcano on the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwestern Iceland on Wednesday, March 31, 2021. Iceland's latest volcano eruption is still attracting crowds of people hoping to get close to the gentle lava flows. (Marco Di Marco/)
While Iceland averages a volcanic eruption every four or five years, this one is not expected to do much more, despite being dormant for around 800 years.
In 2010, ash from the country’s Eyjafjallajokull volcano shut down much international air travel for several days.
