The Icelandic meteorological service reported that a volcano erupted on Saturday for the fourth time since December, shooting vivid orange lava skyward. Fissure eruptions, which are the type of volcanic eruptions that occur on the Reykjanes peninsula, are characterised by a lack of big explosions or extensive ash distribution into the stratosphere. On the Reykjanes peninsula, which is located just south of Icelands capital Reykjavik, authorities had been warning for weeks that an eruption was imminent. Molten rock fountains shot skyward from earthen fractures in livestreams from the region.Warning issued from Icelandic Meteorological Office The Icelandic Meteorological Office posted on its website, Warning: An eruption began in Reykjanes. Meanwhile, the website of Keflavik Airport, which is located nearby Reykjavik, indicated that it was still open for both arrivals and departures.Watch livestream of volcano eruption: Some previous volcano eruptions When the volcano erupted last in early February, more than 20,000 people lost their access to district heating as lava flows wrecked pipes and roadways. Earlier in the year, an outbreak destroyed several houses in a fishing community.A wide portion of Europe was covered in ash clouds from the 2010 eruptions of the Eyafjallajokull volcano in southern Iceland, which grounded almost 100,000 flights and forced hundreds of Icelanders to flee their homes.Hotspot for volcano eruptionsIceland is a hotspot for earthquakes and volcanic eruptions because it is situated between two of the planets largest tectonic plates, the North American and Eurasian, which are moving in different directions.Almost the size of the US state of Kentucky, Iceland is known for its over thirty active volcanoes, which makes the northern European island a popular destination for volcano tourism, a specialised industry that draws thousands of adventure seekers.Fissure eruptions, which are the type of volcanic eruptions that occur on the Reykjanes peninsula, are characterised by a lack of big explosions or extensive ash distribution into the stratosphere.Scientists worry that they might last for decades, therefore Icelandic authorities have begun constructing dykes to redirect flaming lava flows away from residential areas and vital infrastructure.
