Pictures: Volcano erupts near Iceland's capital Reykjavik in seismic hot spot

Images show lava and smoke spewing from a fissure on the side of Fagradalsfjall mountain

Published: August 04, 2022 07:51 Compiled by Balaram Menon, Senior Web Editor and with inputs from agencies

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A close-up of the lava flowing from Fagradalsfjall volcano in Iceland on Wednesday, which is located 32 kilometers southwest of the capital of Reykjavik and close to the international Keflavik Airport. Authorities in Iceland say the volcano in the southwest of the country is erupting just eight months after its last eruption officially ended. Image Credit: AP

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Images and livestreams by local news outlets showed lava and smoke spewing from a fissure in the ground on the side of the Fagradalsfjall mountain, which last year saw an eruption that lasted six months. Image Credit: AFP

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Tourists and residents should avoid the area due to poisonous gases, although there was no immediate risk of damage to critical infrastructure, the Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management said in a statement. Image Credit: AP

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A "code red" was declared to prohibit airplanes from flying over the site although helicopters were sent in to survey the situation. Image Credit: AFP

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If the outbreak was confirmed to be similar to the fissures seen last year, the aviation alert would likely be lowered to orange, signalling less danger, an agency spokesperson said. Image Credit: AP

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"Currently, there have been no disruptions to flights to and from Iceland and international flight corridors remain open," the country's foreign ministry said in a statement. Image Credit: AFP

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The Reykjanes Peninsula is a volcanic and seismic hot spot, and the outbreak took place just 25 km from Reykjavik and 15 km from the nation's international airport. Image Credit: AP

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In March last year, lava fountains erupted spectacularly in the area from a fissure 500 to 750 metres long, continuing until September and attracting thousands of Icelanders and tourists to the scene. Image Credit: AP

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People visit the lava flow at the scene of the newly erupted volcano at Grindavik, Iceland. Image Credit: AFP

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Unlike the eruption in 2010 of the ice-covered Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which halted some 100,000 flights and forced hundreds of Icelanders from their homes, this eruption is not expected to spew much ash or smoke into the atmosphere. Image Credit: AFP

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People look at the lava flowing on Fagradalsfjall volcano in Iceland. Image Credit: AP

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People walk to get a view of the eruptions on Fagradalsfjall volcano in Iceland. Image Credit: AP

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Located between the Eurasian and the North American tectonic plates, among the largest on the planet, Iceland frequently experiences earthquakes and has high volcanic activity as the two plates move in opposite directions. Image Credit: AP

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A man takes photograph of the lava flowing on Fagradalsfjall volcano in Iceland. Image Credit: AP

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Pictures: Volcano erupts near Iceland's capital Reykjavik in seismic hot spot

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