Yesterday, a volcanic eruption in southwest Iceland has prompted evacuations, including at nearby tourist sites like the Blue Lagoon. We left Iceland just over a week ago. We were so fortunate that we could see everything we wanted to. We knew that a volcanic eruption could take place at anytime. I'm glad no properties were damaged this time.
The Sundhnukur volcano, located on the Reykjanes Peninsula, began erupting early on Wednesday morning, according to officials.
After two hours of seismic activity, the volcano began erupting at the Sundhnukur crater range -- about 30 miles southwest of Reykjavik -- just before 4 a.m. local time, the Icelandic Meteorological Office announced.
A fissure about 1.5 miles long opened up at the Sundhnúkur crater row as a result of the eruption, aerial surveys by the Icelandic Coast Guard showed. A second, smaller fissure measuring about .3 miles was created west of Fagradalsfjall, according to the Met Office.
"Witch's hair" -- strands of volcanic glass often produced by lava fountaining activity, also referred to as "Pele's hair" -- was seen drifting in the wind, the Met Office said. Contact with the material can cause skin and eye irritation.
In addition, high levels of gas pollution were measured nearby in Reykjanesbær, but levels were decreasing in the hours after the eruption began, officials said.
Places like Grindavik, a nearby fishing town, and the Blue Lagoon, the geothermal spa that is one of the country's most iconic tourist sites, were among the locations instructed by officials to evacuate, public broadcaster RUV reported.
The town of Grindavik has experienced repeated threats in recent years after the once-dormant volcano on the Reykjanes peninsula began erupting again after 800 years of no activity.
