Iceland Volcano Erupts Again but Doesn’t Threaten Towns

Europe|Iceland Volcano Erupts Again but Doesn’t Threaten Towns

A volcano erupted in Iceland early Wednesday, marking the 12th time in four years for a volcanic system near Reykjavik that has been increasingly active.

Although the eruption blew clouds of gray smoke into the air, it emitted a small amount of lava and did not pose a threat to people or infrastructure, Gisli Olafsson, the secretary general of the Icelandic Red Cross, said on social media.

Magma breached the surface of the Sundhnukur crater at 3:56 a.m. local time, more than two hours after earthquakes began in the area, according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office.

The crater lies between Grindavik, a fishing village 25 miles southwest of Reykjavik, and the Blue Lagoon, a geothermal spa north of the village that is popular with international tourists. The Icelandic authorities evacuated both Grindavik and the Blue Lagoon ahead of the eruption on Wednesday.

It was not immediately known whether the Blue Lagoon had been closed, as it was after an eruption in the area in April. The company that runs the spa did not respond to inquiries.

The Meteorological Office said that the eruptive fissure was about half a mile long and that the lava was mostly flowing southeast, away from any infrastructure. No immediate damages or injuries were reported.

Southeasterly winds could blow a gas cloud from the volcano toward the area near the country’s main international airport, according to the Meteorological Office. As of 6:30 a.m. local time, the eruption had not affected flights at the airport, which serves Reykjavik and lies about 20 miles northwest of Grindavik.

Volcanic eruptions used to occur every three to four years on average in Iceland, but in the past four years 12 have been recorded at the Svartsengi volcanic system, which includes the Sundhnukur crater.