Volcanic Eruption Lights Up Night Sky Over Iceland, Causes State of Emergency

A volcanic eruption lit up the night sky over Iceland on Monday, creating a 2½ mile fissure that sent a river of lava flowing toward surrounding towns and threw molten rock 300 feet into the air.

The Icelandic Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management confirmed the eruption shortly after 11 p.m. local time and activated its civil protection emergency response. The long-expected eruption was finally recorded at 10:17 p.m. (5:17 p.m. ET) by the Icelandic Meteorological Office, which had been closely monitoring seismic activity in the area for weeks.

Police declared a state of emergency and closed tourist spots as hundreds of cubic meters (thousands of cubic feet) of lava spewed across the Reykjanes Peninsula. The eruption took place in the southwestern part of the island, near the Keflavik International Airport, the capital city of Reykjavik and country’s famous thermal springs.

The eruption appears to have occurred about 2 miles from the town of Grindavík, the Icelandic Meteorological Office said. The Civil Protection of Iceland is currently monitoring the situation and has urged people to stay away from the area.

The cause of the eruption is still unknown, but it is believed to be related to the ongoing seismic activity in the area. Scientists are continuing to monitor the situation and will provide updates as more information becomes available.