On Sunday the 14th of January a Volcanic eruption started near the town of Grindavik on the Reykjanes Peninsula. The town of Grindavik had been evacuated the previous night so no people were in any danger. A small part of the lava flow was able to reach the town of Grindavik, destroying three houses.
Key facts about the status: Updated January 15th:
- Volcanic activity has been ongoing around the town of Grindavik since the Geldingadalur eruption in 2021.
- The volcanic activity is limited to this location and has no further threat to other parts of Iceland.
- The town of Grindavik was evacuated for the first time on November 10th. Residents had since then been allowed back home but due to the circumstances only few chose to do so.
- Defenses built after the eruption in December kept more lava from flowing in the direction of Grindavik.
- As of Monday, January 15th, the lava flow has almost come to a full stop.
- The town of Grindavik and the area around the volcano are closed and unstable. Icelandic authorities urge everyone to follow the rules and stay away.
- There is no disruption to air traffic or any traffic outside of the Grindavik area.
Travelers making plans for their Iceland trip might wonder if this affects their plans. Your plans should not be affected by the current situation in Grindavik. This volcanic activity does not affect air traffic and since the first volcano in 2021, no flights have been disrupted. The Blue Lagoon is currently closed, but updates can be found on their website.
You can find live news update and video feed from the volcanic area here below:
RUV – Icelandic national radio live feed