Volcano on Reykjanes Peninsula erupts – Blue Lagoon evacuated!

Volcano on Reykjanes Peninsula erupts – Blue Lagoon evacuated!

On July 16, 2025, a volcano erupted on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula. A fissure in the earth up to 1 km long releases lava while large clouds of smoke and ash rise into the sky. The first live images show lava flow from a fissure between 700 and 1,000 meters long. The eruption fissure, which was originally several hundred meters long, extended to an estimated 2.4 kilometers over the course of the day. Another crack opened in the earth, about 500 meters long, creating larger lava fields around it. Despite the dramatic scene, experts emphasize that there is no immediate threat to populated areas or important infrastructure. This, reports vienna.at, is particularly important because the eruption takes place in a volcanologically favorable area that is far away from dense settlement.

Local police and security forces have taken precautionary measures and are evacuating the campsite in Grindavík and the famous Blue Lagoon geothermal baths as a precaution. Tourists interested in the natural spectacle are urged to stay away from danger zones while they can watch the event from a safe distance. Margrét Kristín Pálsdóttir, the police chief, expresses understanding for the visitors' interest, but strictly pursues the security interests of the residents and the tourists themselves.

Earth observations and seismic activity

The Icelandic Meteorological Office reported the eruption shortly before 4 a.m. local time on Wednesday morning. Seismic activity in the region has increased in recent days, with a total of 480 earthquakes recorded in the 48 hours before the eruption. There was one quake larger than magnitude 3 and numerous weaker quakes. This geophysical activity is not unusual for Iceland, which experiences an average of about 43,000 earthquakes annually, according to volcanodiscovery.com. The last major eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula took place in April 2025 and lasted only a few days.

However, the wave of seismic activity surprised many experts, as they had originally not expected a new eruption until autumn 2025. In particular, the increase in seismic activity since around 2010 is attributed to the improved sensitivity of seismic networks and better data availability. Against this background, the current volcanic eruption once again underlines the dynamic nature of the geological processes in Iceland.