Volcanic Activity Continues at Iceland’s Fissure Volcano with New Eruption Following Earthquake Swarm

Volcanic Activity Continues at Iceland’s Fissure Volcano with New Eruption Following Earthquake Swarm

We have been covering the eruption of the fissure volcano on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula in the southwest, which has been has been the focus of intense activity since late 2023. As I noted a year later, all indications point to a long-dormant fault line beneath the country that is now reawakening and will likely continue to release lava with little warning for years to come.

The fissure has become active once again, with an eruption beginning shortly after a swarm of earthquakes was detected.

A volcanic eruption has sent lava spewing out of a giant fissure on the Sundhnúkur crater row in Iceland.

The fissure opened up on Wednesday (July 16) following a swarm of earthquakes, according to a statement released by the Icelandic Met Office (IMO).

…The “intense earthquake” swarm began in the early hours of Wednesday morning, with the eruption starting at 3.56 a.m. local time, according to the IMO statement. The eruption is ongoing.

The latest observations, reported at midday local time, have revealed that the eruption has spread to a second fissure. The larger fissure is estimated to be around 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) long, while the smaller fissure is about 1,600 feet (500 m) long.

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— Saime (@Saime0777) July 18, 2025

There were evacuations of the areas that have been previously impacted by the fissure eruptions.

…[H]igh levels of gas pollution were measured nearby in Reykjanesbær, but levels were decreasing in the hours after the eruption began, officials said.

Places like Grindavik, a nearby fishing town, and the Blue Lagoon, the geothermal spa that is one of the country’s most iconic tourist sites, were among the locations instructed by officials to evacuate, public broadcaster RUV reported.

The town of Grindavik has experienced repeated threats in recent years after the once-dormant volcano on the Reykjanes peninsula began erupting again after 800 years of no activity.

Besides gas emissions, there were concerns about exposure to “witch’s hair” or Pele’s hair, thin strands of volcanic gas formed by the rapid cooling of lava.

Residents in the area have been advised by meteorological officials to stay indoors, keep windows closed, and turn off ventilation systems to avoid gas pollution risk. There have been reports of so-called “witch’s hair” drifting in the wind, the office says, which are fine glass fibers formed when lava droplets cool rapidly and stretch, causing skin and eye irritation.

The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service has reported that about 200 guests were evacuated from the Blue Lagoon, and a police commissioner in Suðurnes said the evacuation of Grindavík included about 100 individuals.

The government in a July 16 statement advised travelers in the area to monitor air quality, with conditions posted here, and noted that the eruption area is closed to the public for safety reasons.

At the present time, there are no disruptions to airline schedules or transfers, and Iceland’s famous Ring Road remains open.

Iceland sits directly above a geological “hot spot” (where super-hot magma from the Earth’s mantle rises to the surface), and lies along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the ocean floor is gradually separating.

The following video offers a wonderful overview of Iceland’s volcanic systems and fissure volcanoes.

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