The town of Grindavik was evacuated as lava from the Reykjanes Peninsula eruption moved swiftly northward, prompting authorities to relocate residents to safer areas. Reports from CNN confirmed the emergency response and described the immediate risks faced by locals in the affected zone.
Officials noted that the flow appeared to travel toward Grindavikurvegur, the highway that leads into Grindavik, potentially affecting transportation routes and accessibility for those in the surrounding communities. Emergency services stayed on high alert, coordinating with national authorities to manage traffic, shelters, and resource distribution for residents who had to leave their homes.
Despite the disruption, Keflavik International Airport and other regional air hubs continued operating normally. Nevertheless, authorities warned that volcanic gases could reach the airport over the coming days, with projections indicating potential impacts on travel safety and air quality around Sunday, March 17.
Geophysicist Magnus Tumi Gudmundsson described the eruption as the strongest seismic event seen in recent years after conducting a helicopter survey of the site. He noted that the active fault stretches from the northern side of Hagafell north toward Stora Skogfell, with an estimated width of about 3.5 kilometers, highlighting the considerable scale of the ongoing activity.
Reports on the morning of March 17 confirmed that a volcanic eruption had begun on the Reykjanes Peninsula, reinforcing alerts issued to nearby communities and travelers. Local authorities continued monitoring ground movement, gas emissions, and lava pathways to inform safety advisories and evacuation decisions.
Earlier in related volcanic activity, reports mentioned an underwater eruption near Japan that resulted in the formation of a new island, a reminder of the dynamic geology shaping volcanic regions across the globe.