Startling video of Iceland volcano eruption quickly goes viral

A jaw-dropping aerial video shared on social media reveals a volcano erupting in Iceland on Monday.

Monday’s eruption, which started shortly after 10 p.m. native time, was not surprising as scientists warned an one was looming, however the occasion was a lot bigger than anticipated, in response to media studies. The placement of the greater than 2.5-mile volcanic fissure, which is oozing lava by means of the cracks, poses a threat to a close-by energy plant and city, the New York Instances studies.

Scientists have been monitoring the state of affairs for months after magma, which is molten rock beneath the bottom, has been exhibiting indicators of erupting as lava in a volcanic explosion. Final week, researchers shared their newest findings, following assessments across the Icelandic southwest area of Svartsengi.

Iceland had been bracing for a big eruption after large cracks had opened up within the floor, splitting roads in two, as a sequence of earthquakes rocked the area. The city of Grindavík, the place 4,000 folks name dwelling, has been evacuated previous to Monday’s eruption.

Nahel Belgherze shared an unimaginable aerial video on X, previously Twitter. The clip, which rapidly amassed greater than 800,000 views in lower than 2 hours on the social media platform, additionally garnered almost 10,000 likes and 4,000 shares.

“JUST IN: First aerial footage captured simply minutes in the past of the newly opened volcanic fissure close to Grindavík, Iceland,” Nahel Belgherze posted on X. “It’s estimated to be about 3 km lengthy!”

Newsweek reached out by way of electronic mail on Monday night time to the Icelandic Meteorological Workplace for an replace.

The Icelandic Meteorological Workplace mentioned in an replace on the volcanic eruption early Tuesday morning that the most recent aerial observations and seismicity, present the fissure is “increasing to the south.”

“On the time of publication, the southern finish of the fissure was near Sundhnúkur,” the climate company mentioned in a web-based assertion shortly after 2 a.m. native time on Tuesday.

In the course of the first two hours of the eruption, the speed of lava discharge “was considered on a scale of lots of of cubic meters per second, with the most important lava fountains on the northern finish of the fissures,” in response to the Icelandic Meteorological Workplace.

The company mentioned that real-time GPS measurements confirmed areas of “vital” floor deformation.

Round midnight native time, the extent of seismicity on the eruption website started to lower, the meteorological workplace mentioned.

AccuWeather shared a video on X exhibiting thick smoke that prompted street closures.

“Volcano erupts close to Grindavik after weeks of intense earthquake exercise,” AccuWeather posted on X. “Footage reveals thick smoke wafting skyward and lava spewing from the volcano’s mouth. The Icelandic Highway Administration introduced the closure of all roads within the space.”

The Icelandic Nationwide Broadcasting Service is live-streaming the volcanic eruption on YouTube.