Volcano erupts near Blue Lagoon in Iceland prompting evacuations

A volcanic eruption occurred near the Blue Lagoon in Iceland on Wednesday night, prompting the evacuation of about 200 people from the nearby village of Grindavik. The eruption began at 11:14 PM from the Sundhnukagigar fissure. The Blue Lagoon, a major tourist destination, has closed temporarily due to the eruption. This area has seen increased volcanic activity since March 2021, marking a new era of eruptions after 800 years of dormancy. The current eruption is smaller than the one in August, with lower lava outpourings. Most of Grindavik's residents had already evacuated last year, and only about fifty houses were occupied recently.