A volcano has erupted in southern Iceland weeks after residents in the area were evacuated amid increased seismic activity.
The eruption began about 2.5 milesnortheast of Grindavíkon the Reykjanes peninsula shortlyafter 10:15 p.m. local timeon Monday, according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office.
A “swarm” of earthquakes rocked the coastal area around 9 p.m. that same evening, they added.
A state of emergency has been declared in the area, according toNBC News.
Aerial view of the volcanic eruption near Grindavik, Iceland.VIKEN KANTARCI/AFP via Getty
VIKEN KANTARCI/AFP via Getty
The eruption was located on the “dyke intrusion that formed in November,” according to the IMO. Thousands of residents were evacuated that same month following a string ofintense seismic activity, per theAssociated Press.
The volcanic fissure is about 2.5 miles long, stretching from just east of Stóra-Skógfell on the northern end to just east of Sundhnúk on the southern end, according to the weather service.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The intensity of the eruption has since decreased. The IMO said the lava flow is now one-fourth of what it was when the volcanic event began, and as of 2:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday, only one-third of the fissure where the eruption occurred was active.
It is unclear how long the eruption will last. Ármann Höskuldsson, a volcanologist, toldRUVon Monday that the eruption “could last a week to 10 days” or stop as early as Tuesday evening, according to NBC.
Halldor Geirson, an associate professor with the Institute of Earth Sciences at the University of Iceland, said the eruption “could potentially go on for several months,” perReuters.
Government officials have said the eruption does not pose a threat to life, according toCNNand Reuters. Flights in and out of the country are not facing disruptions.
source: people.com
