Iceland volcano erupts after swarm of earthquakes
The President of Iceland says that the eruption began near the evacuated town of Grindavik. FOX Weather's Steve Bender has the latest.
For the latest updates from Iceland, be sure to follow FOX Weather's complete coverage of the Iceland volcanic eruption at this link.
GRINDAVIK, Iceland – A volcano north of Grindavík erupted Monday evening after a swarm of earthquakes rattled the region.
The Icelandic Meteorologic Office (IMO) said the eruption could be seen on webcams near Hagafell.
"An eruption has begun near the evacuated town of Grindavík. Our priorities remain to protect lives and infrastructure," the President of Iceland Gudni Th. Johannesson said. "Civil Defence has closed off the affected area. We now wait to see what the forces of nature have in store. We are prepared and remain vigilant."
While the level of seismicity at the eruption site has decreased, the IMO says that the eruption fissure is expanding.
"The eruption is located on the dyke intrusion that formed in November. The rate of lava discharge during the first two hours of the eruption was thought to be on a scale of hundreds of cubic metres per second, with the largest lava fountains on the northern end of the fissures," the IMO warned. "Lava is spreading laterally from either side of the newly opened fissures. From real-time GPS measurements, significant ground deformation has accompanied the opening of the eruption fissures."
Photo taken directly to the south on board the helicopter of the Swedish Coast Guard. Grindavík in the distance. ((Photo: Icelandic Meteorological Office) / FOX Weather)
The IMO warned of the possible eruption ever since a swarm of "intense" earthquakes was detected north of Grindavík at the end of October.
DRONE VIDEO SHOWS LARGE CRACK SPLITTING ICELANDIC TOWN'S STREET AMID VOLCANIC THREAT
In the weeks that followed, tens of thousands of earthquakes rumbled throughout the region. That then led to the declaration of a state of emergency and the evacuation of Grindavík and its nearly 3,700 residents.
The popular tourist destination Blue Lagoon also shut down amid fears that the volcano would erupt.
ICELAND RESIDENT DESCRIBED RELENTLESS EARTHQUAKES, MOMENTS OF PANICKED EVACUATION
Grindavík's waiting game
GRINDAVIK, ICELAND - NOVEMBER 14: Police direct traffic out of Grindavik on November 14, 2023 in Grindavik, Iceland. For the second day residents were allowed in to quickly collect personal belongings. (Photo by Micah Garen/Getty Images)
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GRINDAVIK, ICELAND - NOVEMBER 14: Residents wait in a long line of cars to get into Grindavik to collect personal items on November 14, 2023 in Grindavik, Iceland. For the second day residents were allowed in to quickly collect personal belongings. (Photo by Micah Garen/Getty Images)
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GRINDAVIK, ICELAND - NOVEMBER 14: Police direct traffic out of Grindavik on November 14, 2023 in Grindavik, Iceland. For the second day residents were allowed in to quickly collect personal belongings. (Photo by Micah Garen/Getty Images)
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This photo taken on November 13, 2023 shows vehicles leaving the town of Grindavik, southwestern Iceland, during evacuation following earthquakes. The southwestern town of Grindavik -- home to around 4,000 people -- was evacuated in the early hours of November 11 after magma shifting under the Earth's crust caused hundreds of earthquakes in what experts warned could be a precursor to a volcanic eruption. The seismic activity damaged roads and buildings in the town situated 40 kilometres (25 miles) southwest of the capital Reykjavik, an AFP journalist saw. (Photo by Kjartan TORBJOERNSSON / AFP) / Iceland OUT (Photo by KJARTAN TORBJOERNSSON/AFP via Getty Images)
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This photo taken on November 13, 2023 shows a member of the emergency services walking near a crack cutting across the main road in Grindavik, southwestern Iceland following earthquakes. The southwestern town of Grindavik -- home to around 4,000 people -- was evacuated in the early hours of November 11 after magma shifting under the Earth's crust caused hundreds of earthquakes in what experts warned could be a precursor to a volcanic eruption. The seismic activity damaged roads and buildings in the town situated 40 kilometres (25 miles) southwest of the capital Reykjavik, an AFP journalist saw. (Photo by Kjartan TORBJOERNSSON / AFP) / Iceland OUT (Photo by KJARTAN TORBJOERNSSON/AFP via Getty Images)
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TOPSHOT - This photo taken on November 13, 2023 shows a crack cutting across the main road in Grindavik, southwestern Iceland following earthquakes. The southwestern town of Grindavik -- home to around 4,000 people -- was evacuated in the early hours of November 11 after magma shifting under the Earth's crust caused hundreds of earthquakes in what experts warned could be a precursor to a volcanic eruption. The seismic activity damaged roads and buildings in the town situated 40 kilometres (25 miles) southwest of the capital Reykjavik, an AFP journalist saw. (Photo by Kjartan TORBJOERNSSON / AFP) / Iceland OUT (Photo by KJARTAN TORBJOERNSSON/AFP via Getty Images)
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Repair work is underway after large cracks formed across roads near Grindavik, Iceland.
(Facebook.com/Vegagerdin)
Crews are seen trying to fill cracks that formed amid earthquake activity near Grindavik, Iceland.
(Facebook.com/Vegagerdin)
Several roads in and around Grindavik, Iceland, have been damaged due to large cracks that have formed.
(Facebook.com/Vegagerdin)
Fears of a volcanic eruption in Iceland remain amid thousands of earthquakes reported in the Grindavick area.
(Facebook.com/Vegagerdin)
Crews have been trying to repair roads that were damaged when cracks formed amid earthquakes near Grindavik, Iceland.
(Facebook.com/Vegagerdin)
A large hole is seen in a road in Grindavik, Iceland.
(Facebook.com/Vegagerdin)
GRINDAVIK, ICELAND - NOVEMBER 13: Residents were allowed to enter Grindivik for a few hours to retrieve belongings on November 13, 2023 in Grindavik, Iceland. Iceland has declared a state of emergency after a series of earthquakes with authorities ordering thousands of people to leave the southwestern town of Grindavík as a precaution. The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) has said there was a considerable risk of a volcanic eruption. (Photo by Micah Garen/Getty Images)
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GRINDAVIK, ICELAND - NOVEMBER 13: Residents were allowed to enter Grindivik for a few hours to retrieve belongings on November 13, 2023 in Grindavik, Iceland. Iceland has declared a state of emergency after a series of earthquakes with authorities ordering thousands of people to leave the southwestern town of Grindavík as a precaution. The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) has said there was a considerable risk of a volcanic eruption. (Photo by Micah Garen/Getty Images)
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A large hole is seen in a road near Grindavik in Iceland amid fears of a volcanic eruption.
(Facebook.com/Vegagerdin)
A large crack and hole is seen in a road near Grindavik in Iceland amid fears of a volcanic eruption.
(Facebook.com/Vegagerdin)
Crews are seen inspecting a road outside of Grindavik in Iceland amid fears of a volcanic eruption.
(Facebook.com/Vegagerdin)
Crews are seen inspecting a road outside of Grindavik in Iceland amid fears of a volcanic eruption.
(Facebook.com/Vegagerdin)
A large crack developed across a road outside Grindavik in Iceland amid fears of a volcanic eruption.
(Facebook.com/Vegagerdin)
A large crack developed across a road outside Grindavik in Iceland amid fears of a volcanic eruption.
(Facebook.com/Vegagerdin)
Crews inspect a road after a large crack appeared amid fears that a volcano will erupt there soon.
(Facebook.com/Vegagerdin)
REYKJAVIK, ICELAND - NOVEMBER 12: Officials with Almannavarnir, the Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management, hold a press conference on November 12, 2023 in Reykjavik, Iceland. The country has declared a state of emergency after a series of earthquakes around the Fagradalsfjall volcano in recent weeks, prompting worries of a potential eruption. (Photo by Micah Garen/Getty Images)
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GRINDAVIK, ICELAND - NOVEMBER 12: The road to Grindavik is closed by the police on November 12, 2023 in Grindavik, Iceland. The country has declared a state of emergency after a series of earthquakes around the Fagradalsfjall volcano in recent weeks, prompting worries of a potential eruption. (Photo by Micah Garen/Getty Images)
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The golf course in Grindavík is experiencing significant cracking from earthquakes.
(RÚV)
The golf course in Grindavík is experiencing significant cracking from earthquakes.
(RÚV)
The golf course in Grindavík is experiencing significant cracking from earthquakes.
(RÚV)
The golf course in Grindavík is experiencing significant cracking from earthquakes.
(RÚV)
The golf course in Grindavík is experiencing significant cracking from earthquakes.
(RÚV)
Numerous seismographs have been installed by a team of geologists from the University of Iceland.
(Raul Moreno/SOPA Images/LightRocket)
A city street of Grindavik with Thorbjöm mountain in the background. Iceland is preparing for another volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula.
(Raul Moreno/SOPA Images/LightRocket)
The access road to Blue Lagoon has been closed to avoid incidents in the area in the event of a possible volcanic eruption.
(Raul Moreno/SOPA Images/LightRocket)
Grindavík was evacuated on Nov. 10, but a decision to let residents return to gather belongings left behind was made two days later. At that time, residents in an eastern district of Grindavík returned to gather what they could, including pets, and then retreat back to safety.
More residents in a different district were then allowed to return on the morning of November 13 before all residents were told they could go back later that day.
Strict rules were in place, however.
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For instance, only one person per household was allowed back inside Grindavík, and only if they were accompanied by a first responder.
They were also given only about 5 minutes to gather what they could before they were told to leave.
Residents who were unable to return on those days were given another opportunity on Nov. 14, but that was short-lived as gas meters in the area began to detect an increased level of sulfur dioxide, leading officials to quickly evacuate the area.
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Signs of an impending volcanic eruption
Watch: Video shows steam rising from cracked roads in Grindavik amid Iceland volcanic eruption fears
Video recorded in Grindavik shows steam coming from cracks that formed in roads. The seaside town in Iceland is preparing for a possible volcanic eruption.
In addition to the earthquakes that were detected across the region, the IMO said a graben-like formation of about 3 feet sliced through parts of Grindavík due to magma intrusion.
The USGS defines a graben as a piece of the Earth’s crust that has shifted downward in comparison to adjacent crusts known as horsts which are shifted upward.
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Watch: Drone video shows large crack in Iceland town threatened by volcanic activity
Video from Grindavik, Iceland, show large cracks that have formed amid thousands of earthquakes reported in the region. There are fears that a volcano could erupt there soon.
Large cracks then formed across the region that destroyed roads in and around Grindavík, which continued to widen as the hours and days passed.
Photos and videos showed the extent of the damage to the roads and even showed steam that was beginning to rise from beneath the surface.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.