Overall Green alert Volcanic eruption for Reykjanes
in Iceland

Event summary

GREEN alert: The Reykjanes Volcanic eruption is unlikely to require external humanitarian assistance based on the exposed population and coping capacity.

GDACS ID VO 1000102
Name: Reykjanes (371020)
Lat/Lon: 63.82 , -22.72
Event Date: 26 Nov 2024 UTC
Exposed Population 30km: About 30000 people within 30km
Exposed Population 100km: About 290000 people within 100km
Max Volc. Explosivity Index VEI: 4
Population Exposure Index PEI: 2
Inserted at: 26 Nov 2024 08:00 UTC

GDACS Score

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Virtual OSOCC
Meteo assessment
Satellite products
Analytical products
Iceland - Volcanic eruption (ECHO 26 Nov 2024)Thu, 21 Nov 2024 11:19

  • A new eruption started on the Sundhnúkur fissure swarm (Reykjanes Peninsula) between Stóra-Skógfell and Sýlingarfell on 20 November at 23.14 UTC. The length of the fissure is estimated to be about 3 km and the lava flow is spreading both eastward and westward.
  • The lava flow has crossed Grindavíkurvegur road and it is currently impassable. The lava has also flowed over a water pipe supplying hot water to 30,000 inhabitants in Reykjanes. The water pipe is still operational due to structural mitigation efforts and the situation is monitored closely.
  • According to the Icelandic Civil Protection, Grindavík town, Svartsengi power station and the Blue Lagoon area were evacuated, around 50 houses in Grindavík were occupied overnight. In addition, the Keflavik International Airport was not affected by the eruption and the air traffic to and from Iceland is operating normally.
  • This eruption is the seventh in the area this year but is significantly smaller than the last eruption, which started on 22 August. The estimated lava flow rate at present is about 1,300 m³/s, compared to approximately 2,500 m³/s during the August eruption.
Iceland - Volcanic eruption, update (ECHO 27 Nov 2024)Fri, 22 Nov 2024 11:38

  • The eruptive activity that began on the Sundhnúkur fissure swarm (Reykjanes Peninsula) between Stóra-Skógfell and Sýlingarfell on 20 November is still continuing.
  • According to the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO), as of 21 November, the lava is flowing westwards at a rate higher than 100 m/h hour, and the lava field is extending further west than any previous flow. It has reached the Blue Lagoon's car parking lot and the hot water pipeline, which is still operational, as well as the Svartsengi power station which is running on back up power. The lava has crossed the Grindavíkurvegur road which is impassable.
  • According to media reports, at least 200 tourists have been evacuated in the Blue Lagoon area, and around 60 houses in Grindavík. In addition, a number of roads have been closed.
  • Seismic activity and deformation is currently minimal.
Iceland - Volcanic eruption, update (ECHO 01 Dec 2024)Tue, 26 Nov 2024 11:34

  • The volcanic activity between Stóra-Skógfell and Sýlingarfell, Reykjanes Peninsula continues. The lava flow moving westward has slowed and cooled on the surface but may still continue to flow beneath this solidified crust, toward the protective barriers near Svartsengi and the Blue Lagoon.
  • Fairly high concentrations of gas pollution have been recorded, and westerly and southwesterly winds are expected on 26 November.
  • A new hazard map has been issued on 25 November that will be valid until the 27 of November.
Detailed event map. European Union, 2024. Map produced by EC-JRC.
The boundaries and the names shown on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the European Union.

Updates on volcanic activity (Smithsonian)

The Smithsonian/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report provides information about global volcanism on a weekly basis. See the detail here

Latest media headlines

NASA captures stunning image of Iceland''s Volcanic Eruption; oozing l.. 11/30/2024 6:41:00 AM.

NASA captures stunning image of Iceland’s Volcanic Eruption; oozing lava engulfs Blue Lagoon parking lot | In pics A NASA satellite image captures Iceland''s latest volcanic eruption, showing lava flowing near the Blue Lagoon. The eruption,
...(more)
Iceland Volcano Eruption Update: Lava Approaches Iconic Blue Lagoon 11/29/2024 5:48:00 PM.

Steady volcanic activity continues to approach the iconic Blue Lagoon resort on Iceland''s Reykjanes Peninsula, following the eruption last week. The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) reported Thursday that lava flows are expanding east
...(more)
Peut-on vivre serein au pied d’un volcan? 11/29/2024 2:35:00 PM.

Nous avons déserté l’emblématique route 1 qui entoure l’Islande, ses glaciers et ses volcans, délimitant la zone bien nommée les hautes terres. Cette frontière est souvent ensevelie sous les cendres, la neige, et des rivières glaciaires en
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Svartsengi volcano update: eruption remains stable 11/29/2024 6:05:00 AM.

The activity has been stable over the past 24 hours. Magma continues to migrate under the ground through sub-vertical tabular structure, known as dyke, reflecting continuous spattering and lava flows from the eruptive fissure on the surface
...(more)

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Estimated casualties (PAGER)

USGS estimates the number of casualties for each earthquake for the Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response (PAGER) product.
The graph shows the current fatalities estimate.

Exposed population

Data, images, links, services and documents

For this events, GDACS has links to information from the following sources: EC-JRC (32), (2), INGV (2), WMO (1), INFORM (2), JSR (1),