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Here's what you need to know about Iceland's latest eruption.
No, currently, there is no ongoing eruption in Iceland. The latest volcanic eruption started in Iceland on August 22 on the Reykjanes Peninsula and lasted 14 days, ending on September 5, 2024. This is the sixth eruption in the Sundhnúkur crater row since December 2023.
Experts are closely monitoring the situation, and all precautions are in place. Iceland remains a captivating and safe destination for travelers.
Like the earlier eruptions, this one was contained in its surroundings on the Reykjanes Peninsula. This means that the eruption did not impact the airport, the Ring Road, the capital city of Reykjavik, or any other areas of Iceland.
Iceland’s 9th eruption in the past three years, captured on August 22. Photo by Gunnar G. Gudmundsson
The new volcanic eruption was occurring on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula, specifically in the Sundhnúkur craters. The series of 2023–2024 Sundhnúkur craters eruptions are north of Grindavík, approximately 25 miles (40 kilometers) from Reykjavík, Iceland's capital.
Location of the recent volcano eruptions in Iceland. Source: Arctic Adventures
Yes, it's perfectly safe to visit Iceland. Flights and all our tours, except those involving the Blue Lagoon, are operating smoothly. While some roads near the eruption site might be closed, the rest of the country continues as usual, with daily life and travel unaffected.
Keflavík Airport is operating as usual, and flights are not affected.
The Reykjanes Peninsula has seen several volcanic eruptions since 2021, none of which have affected tours or flights. These volcanic events differ significantly from the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption, which caused air travel disruptions due to extensive ash clouds.
Unlike the subglacial Eyjafjallajökull eruption, the recent eruptions in Reykjanes are fissure eruptions, which are smaller and do not emit ash.
The eruption is not considered dangerous to the public or flights. A fissure eruption only affects the area directly surrounding the eruption site with lava flows. If authorities allow it, people can approach the site, but until then, they should stay away from it to avoid any danger.
Learn more in this short video with Dr. Matthew Roberts, Managing Director at the Icelandic Met Office.
Currently, the area near the eruption site is closed for safety reasons. However, you can still safely view the volcanic activity from above with a volcano helicopter tour, which provides a unique and thrilling perspective. For future visits, we recommend guided tours for safety and an informative experience. Keep an eye on updates for when more tours might become available!
Blue Lagoon's opening times may be affected due to recent seismic activity in the area. An eruption at Sundhnúkagígar is at a safe distance from the lagoon, however, operational hours may be influenced by air quality forecasts.
Icelandic authorities are well-prepared for such events. Iceland experiences frequent volcanic activity, particularly in the Reykjanes peninsula, where several eruptions have occurred in recent years.
For more information, follow the updates at the Icelandic Meteorological Office or Safe Travel Iceland.
Our tours are proceeding as scheduled, so there's no need to change your plans. However, if you have any concerns about your itinerary, feel free to contact our team for assistance. Since nature can be unpredictable and circumstances may change, we're closely monitoring updates from the authorities. We'll inform you of any developments affecting your travel plans with us.
It's challenging to predict the duration of Iceland's eruptions. They could potentially last for a few days or extend over several months.
In Iceland, living with earthquakes and volcanoes is part of everyday life. This is because Iceland sits on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in the North Atlantic Ocean.
Here, the Eurasian and North American plates move apart, creating rift zones where the Earth's crust breaks apart. Magma, or molten rock, rises up through these fractures and sometimes erupts as lava or ash.
Iceland has some of the most advanced earthquake monitoring and volcanic eruption prediction systems in the world. This guarantees the safety of both residents and tourists, allowing them to continue with their daily routines even during times of heightened seismic activity.
March 2024 Volcano Eruption in Iceland - Photo by Julius Matikas
The series of 2023–2024 Sundhnúkur eruptions started on December 18, 2023, at the Sundhnúkur crater chain in the Reykjanes volcanic zone, north of Grindavík on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula. As of August 22, 2024, six eruptions had occurred following a period of intense earthquakes.
December 18-21, 2023: The first eruption lasted 3 days.
January 14-16, 2024: The second eruption lasted 2 days, causing some property damage and evacuation from the nearby town.
February 8, 2024: The third eruption was brief, ending on the same day, and featured dramatic lava fountains.
March 16 - May 8, 2024: The fourth eruption lasted 54 days, becoming the longest in the series.
May 29 - June 22, 2024: The fifth eruption lasted 24 days and produced the largest lava field.
August 22 - September 5, 2024: The sixth eruption in the Sundhnúkur series, which lasted 14 days, in a very similar location as the previous one. This new eruption has created a fissure approximately 2.42 miles (3.9 km) long. The eruption is localized and has not impacted other areas of Iceland.
In July 2023, an eruption occurred at Litli-Hrútur in Iceland, unique and larger than the previous eruptions in the same area. Although it did not pose any immediate danger to communities or flights, it did present some challenges, such as gas pollution and intense seismic activity.
Public access to the eruption site was permitted, but hiking to the volcano was advised against due to high levels of volcanic gasses. The eruption occurred in an uninhabited area, posing no immediate risk to communities or infrastructure, and Keflavik Airport operated normally without any flight disruptions.
Fagradalsfjall volcano, this time in the Meradalir Valley, erupted again on August 3rd, 2022, almost a year after its last eruption. This time, the eruption was characterized by lava flowing from a fissure vent without any explosive activity. The eruption officially concluded after 18 days on August 21, 2022.
Fortunately, the eruption did not pose an immediate threat to the surrounding infrastructure, lives, or air traffic. Keflavik International Airport flights were not disrupted. The Meradalir Valley could be accessed via a rather challenging 17 km hike.
Although no visible activity has been observed since August 21st, 2022, the hiking path remained open for exploration.
After over 6,000 years of dormancy, the Geldingadalur valley’s Fagradalsfjall volcano erupted on March 19, 2021, marking the first eruption in the Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark in 800 years. Uniquely, this eruption was dubbed a "tourist eruption" due to its accessibility and relatively low risk. It officially ended on September 18, 2021.
The eruption didn't immediately pose a threat to nearby towns. However, before the eruption, over 40,000 earthquakes occurred, evacuating 400-500 people from the area. On April 6, two new eruption fissures emerged, followed by another fissure on April 7, northeast of the original site.
The flowing lava traveled into Meradalir Valley, creating a new lava field. Later, a hiking trail was created for safer access to the eruption site.
