Iceland NOW! Sixth Volcanic Eruption in a Year. Reykjanes Peninsula Under State of Emergency

On the evening of August 22, a new volcanic eruption began on the Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland. This is the sixth eruption since the end of last year when the volcano awoke after 800 years of dormancy.

The eruption started around 10:00 PM local time, following an intense series of earthquakes in the Sundhnukar crater row. Within an hour, a 2.4-mile fissure opened up in the crater, spewing fountains of lava. The lava flowed east and west towards the Grindavíkurvegur road, which connects Grindavik to the country’s main highway network. This route is critical as it leads to the famous Blue Lagoon spa, one of the world's most well-known geothermal resorts and a popular tourist destination in Iceland.

When the eruption began, about 1,300 people were at the Blue Lagoon. They were all evacuated within 40 minutes, and the resort was closed to visitors. The police declared a state of emergency in the region surrounding the volcano and closed all roads.

Unlike previous eruptions, the lava flow did not affect the town of Grindavik, most of whose residents were evacuated back in December 2023. At that time, large cracks had formed in the ground near the town following a series of earthquakes. Subsequent eruptions caused extensive damage to the town’s infrastructure and residents’ property, forcing many to leave Grindavik for their safety. The few who had returned to the town were once again forced to flee after the eruption, as strong winds carried plumes of toxic gas over the town.

Gases are another serious hazard posed by volcanic eruptions. They can cause irreparable harm to health, particularly for children, the elderly, and those with preexisting conditions.

After the eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula, the wind was blowing south, so the capital region of Iceland was not affected by the gases. However, a completely different, more distant area suffered the consequences. Early on the morning of August 25, a massive cloud of corrosive SO2 gas reached the United Kingdom. It covered the country from around 4 AM and still engulfed half the country by 8:45 AM. People were urged to stay indoors to avoid health risks.

Another notable fact is that as soon as news of the eruption spread through the media, hundreds of onlookers rushed to nearby viewing platforms to witness this natural phenomenon, which instantly became the main tourist attraction. And this is despite the danger posed by the erupting volcano. After all, this is a force of nature that remains beyond human control to this day.

People have completely lost their vigilance. They don’t understand the threats posed by a raging climate and are willing to risk their lives for a show, for cool footage for their social media pages. If you don’t value your own life, you certainly won’t value the life of another person. No wonder our world is so different from the one we all want to live in.

If you truly want to understand why there is such a climate disaster and humanity happening in the world, and how it can be changed in the coming years, watch the forum "Global Crisis. The Responsibility."