Iceland volcano erupts forcing town, popular tourist destination Blue Lagoon to evacuate

Iceland volcano erupts near town of Grindavik

Video from Icelandic Coast Guard helicopter shows lava from the eruption near the town of Grindavik. Thousands have been evacuated including the popular tourist destination, the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa. 

GRINDAVIK, Iceland – A volcano on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula began erupting Tuesday morning.

State media reported that the nearby town of Grindavik was evacuated. One of Iceland's most popular tourist destinations, the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, posted on its website that it was temporarily closed due to a magma intrusion.

The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) said the lava had breached part of the defensive wall north of Grindavik. The office reported that a hot water pipeline had broken north of town.

Iceland's largest international airport, Keflavík Airport, located just 16 miles north of Grindavik, announced Tuesday that it was not being impacted by the eruption.

Photos and video from officials show the lava just a few hundred yards from the town. The IMO said the fissure where the lava is coming from has expanded to nearly three-quarters of a mile long, and earthquake activity was recorded by the office Tuesday morning in areas nearby.

According to the IMO, the shaking was more likely caused by the movement of magma rather than tectonic activity.

Officials said volcanic activity appeared to decrease on Tuesday afternoon.

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Iceland's Civil Protection Agency is operating at an emergency level.

No injuries have been reported. 

The volcano last erupted on Dec. 8, 2024.

Grindavik is about 30 miles south of Iceland's capital, Reykjavík.