See Iceland’s Volcano Eruption in Photos

2 minute read
A view of lava crossing the main road to Grindavík and flowing on the road leading to the Blue Lagoon, in Grindavík, Iceland
A view of lava crossing the main road to Grindavík and flowing on the road leading to the Blue Lagoon, in Grindavík, Iceland, on Feb. 8, 2024. A volcano in southwestern Iceland has erupted for the third time since December and sent jets of lava into the sky. The eruption on Thursday morning triggered the evacuation the Blue Lagoon spa which is one of the island nation’s biggest tourist attractions.Marco Di Marco—AP
Text by Solcyre Burga | Photo Editing by Eli Cohen

An Icelandic volcano system erupted for the third time since December on Thursday, in a phenomenon that could impact the world-famous Blue Lagoon hot springs.

The eruption, which began around 6 a.m. local time, has already affected roads and structures, damaging a pipe that supplies hot water for tens of thousands of locals. Volcanic activity also caused a 3000-meter crack running from Sundhnúk to Stóra-Scógfell, with plumes from the eruption measuring 3000 meters high, according to the Icelandic Met Office.

The nearby fishing town of Grindavik has been evacuated since November, when a previous round of eruptions damaged roads, power lines, and caused deadly cracks in the ground. Reports indicate that the power of the eruption has since decreased, though this most recent instance of volcanic activity signals a rise in eruptions that experts expect to continue to see.

The Reykjanes Peninsula has been active since 2020, when it experienced seismic activity for the first time in eight centuries, though eruptions prior to 2023 were harmless to the surrounding region. 

Iceland houses more than 30 Holocene volcanoes, which are volcanoes that have erupted sometime in the last 11,700 years. 

Here’s a photo roundup of the volcano eruption. 

People look at the volcano erupting, north of Grindavík, Iceland, on Feb. 8, 2024.
People look at the volcano erupting, north of Grindavík, Iceland, on Feb. 8, 2024.Marco Di Marco—AP
People fill up their vehicles at a petrol station as lava and billowing smoke pours out of a fissure during a volcanic eruption near Grindavík
People fill up their vehicles at a petrol station as lava and billowing smoke pours out of a fissure during a volcanic eruption near Grindavík, in western Iceland, on Feb. 8, 2024.Kristinn Magnusson—AFP/Getty Images
Lava crosses the main road to Grindavík and flows on the road leading to the Blue Lagoon
Lava crosses the main road to Grindavík and flows on the road leading to the Blue Lagoon.Marco Di Marco—AP
An aerial view shows lava after volcano eruption northeast of Sylingarfell, near Grindavík
An aerial view shows lava after volcano eruption northeast of Sylingarfell, near Grindavík, Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland, on Feb. 8, 2024.Iceland Civil Defense/Anadolu/Getty Images
Emergency services close a road as lava erupts from a fissure in Grandavík, Iceland.
Emergency services close a road as lava erupts from a fissure in Grandavík, Iceland.Micah Garen—Getty Images
A view of lava crossing the main road to Grindavík and flowing on the road leading to the Blue Lagoon, in Grindavík, Iceland.
A view of lava crossing the main road to Grindavík and flowing on the road leading to the Blue Lagoon, in Grindavík, Iceland.Marco Di Marco—AP
An arial view of a volcano spewing lava and smoke as it erupts, near Grindavik, on Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland, on Feb. 8, 2024.
An arial view of a volcano spewing lava and smoke as it erupts, near Grindavík, on Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland, on Feb. 8, 2024.Iceland Civil Protection/Reuters
Molten lava is seen overflowing the road leading to the famous tourist destination Blue Lagoon near Grindavík, Iceland, on Feb. 8, 2023.
Molten lava is seen overflowing the road leading to the Blue Lagoon.Kristinn Magnusson—AFP/Getty Images
Lava crosses the main road to Grindavík and flows on the road leading to the Blue Lagoon.
Lava crosses the main road to Grindavík and flows on the road leading to the Blue Lagoon.Marco Di Marco—AP

More Must-Reads from TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com