Iceland volcano live: Lava flows into Grindavik as country faces ‘daunting’ time after ‘worst-case scenario’

Thousands of residents evacuated after second volcanic eruption near Grindavik in less than a month

Buildings in Iceland’s Grindavik go up in flames as volcano’s lava reaches town

Lava is flowing into Grindavik as Iceland’s President said the country is facing a “daunting” time after a fresh volcanic eruption.

An expert fears the “worst-case scenario” has become the reality in Iceland as lava has flowed into people’s homes for the first time, torching at least three.

The Icelandic Meteorological Office said the volcano in the southwest of the country erupted for the second time in less than a month on Sunday, suspecting the fissure had since forced itself under the town of Grindavik.

President Gudni Th Johannesson said in a televised address on Sunday that “a daunting period of upheaval has begun on the Reykjanes peninsula”, where a long-dormant volcanic system has awakened.

When asked if the worst-case scenario had happened, Benedikt Halldórsson, an expert in earthquake activity at the Icelandic Meteorological Office, told The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service: “Yes, I don’t think it’s possible to imagine anything worse than it erupting in a settlement and lava flowing onto houses.”

Geophysicist Magnus Tumi Gudmundsson said on Monday morning that the eruption had “decreased considerably” overnight, but that it was impossible to say when it would end.

Nearly 4,000 residents were evacuated. No one has been killed in the eruptions, but a workman is missing after reportedly falling into a crack opened by the volcano.

Key points

• ‘Worst-case scenario’ as new crack forms and lava flows into houses for first time
• Volcano erupts again sparking new evacuation
• Second eruption in less than a month
• Multiple houses torched by lava
• ‘Black day’ for Grindavik – Iceland PM
• Mapped – The volcano’s fissure and seismic activity

[15 January 2024 17:00 · Tara Cobham]

Recap: Huge search for man who fell into crack that opened in Grindavik

A manhunt has been launched after a worker fell into an enormous crack created by the earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in Iceland.

The missing man was working to fill in crevasses formed by earthquakes and volcanic activity in the fishing town of Grindavik when he fell on Wednesday, according to local media.

The search, involving hundreds of rescue workers, had to be called off overnight on Thursday after landslides dropped tonnes of rocks on the area.

Barney Davis reports:

[15 January 2024 18:00 · Tara Cobham]

Is it safe to travel to Iceland after volcanic eruption?

The earth is at its most restless in Iceland right now. Since November 2023 the Icelandic authorities have been monitoring seismic activity on the Reykjanes Peninsula, southwest of Reykjavik.

At least three homes have been set alight after lava from a volcanic eruption hit the fishing town of Grindavik. On Sunday afternoon, the Icelandic Met Office reported: “A new eruptive fissure opened at 12.10pm this afternoon, just north of the town. Lava flows extruded from this fissure have now entered the town.”

Grindavik is largely protected by defensive walls that were built at the onset of intense seismic activities in November.

Simon Calder, Travel Correspondent reports:

[15 January 2024 19:00 · Tara Cobham]

Watch: House burns down as lava river surrounds building

[15 January 2024 20:00 · Tara Cobham]

In pictures: Iceland volcano erupts for second time in less than a month

House burns down as lava river surrounds building (Björn Steinbekk, @bsteinbekk)

Lava as the volcano erupts near Grindavík, Iceland, on Sunday (Icelandic Civil Protection via AP)

Lava from an erupting volcano in Iceland consuming a building near the town of Grindavik, Iceland, on Sunday (LIVEFROMICELAND.IS via AP)