Iceland's Reykjanes peninsula hit by volcanic eruption, endangering local spa and leaving district without hot water

The eruption started on the Reykjanes Peninsula of Iceland around 2 a.m. ET on Thursday. The lava flow reached the Grindavíkurvegur road, leading to the town of Grindavík, faster than anticipated.

In a video published by the National Broadcasting Service RUV, the fiery flow crossing the road is visible at the turn to the renowned local spa and Blue Lagoon, seemingly "devouring" its surface.

"We are closely monitoring the situation. The fissure is about 1.86 miles long and spans from Sundhnúkur to the eastern end of Stóra-Skógur," the Road Administration (Vegagerðin) reported around midday, accompanying it with a photograph of the lava stream.

The lava made contact with a hot water pipeline that serves the entire Suðurnes region. Around 7:30 a.m. ET, RUV reported that hot water would only be accessible for the ensuing hour - there is a likelihood that its supply will resume tomorrow. The district authorities declared a state of emergency and urged residents to conserve the precious resource.

This marks the sixth volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula since 2021. The previous eruption took place in mid-January. It lasted two days, with the lava from the volcano flowing towards Grindavík. Residents were temporarily evacuated, and the local tourist attraction, the Blue Lagoon pool, along with access roads, were temporarily closed.

Source: RUV, PAP, Vegagerðin