Outburst of volcano near Reykjavik poses threat to Iceland’s capital

A volcano erupted around 20 miles from Iceland’s capital Reykjavik, sending lava spewing into the air.

The country’s meteorological agency said the eruption began on Monday afternoon in an uninhabited valley, following days of seismic activity.

“The eruption is small and there is presently no emission of ash to the atmosphere,” the service said, adding that lava appeared to be emerging as a series of fountains along a 200-meter (656-foot) fissure in the ground.

This is the third eruption in the area, broadly known as Fagradalsfjall volcano, in the past two years. It took place close to Litli Hrutur in Reykjanes Peninsula.

However, the agency said that “there are no immediate risks to communities or infrastructure.”

Lava bubbled after a volcano erupted on the Reykjanes peninsula in southwest Iceland, near the capital Reykjavik on July 10. (Video: Juergen Merz – Glacier Photo Artist)

The nearby Keflavik airport, which has connections to the United States, Canada and European countries, confirmed there were no disruptions to its flights.

Volcano eruption near Iceland airport sparks travel fears, risky photo shoots

The meteorological service advised people against visiting the area, and also noted that dangerous levels of gasses would accumulate near the site of the eruption.

Last year’s eruption in the area continued to attract onlookers, despite similar warnings from the authorities. A 2021 eruption lasted about six months.

But the volcanic activity in recent years has been a far cry from 2010, when a giant ash cloud from another of the country’s volcanoes led to the closure of international airspace — in what The Washington Post later described as “the largest shutdown of European airspace since World War II.”