Viken Kantarci/AFP/Getty Images
The coastal town of Grindavík, pictured after the eruption on Tuesday, was evacuated due to increasing seismic activity.
CNN –
Hopes that residents of an Icelandic fishing village would be able to celebrate Christmas at home were dashed after a violent eruption from a nearby volcano on Monday evening.
The volcano on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula erupted around 10 p.m. local time (5 p.m. ET), spewing lava and huge clouds of smoke into the atmosphere from a vent about 3.5 kilometers long.
The 4,000 residents of Grindavík, which lies about three kilometers south of the volcano and is the only town in the region, were evacuated last month in anticipation of an eruption as seismic activity increased.
The outbreak appears to be slowing, a positive sign that properties in the coastal city will be spared from heavy rainfall.
However, residents will not be able to spend Christmas in their homes, the city's mayor, Fannar Jónasson, said in a statement on Tuesday evening.
“Unfortunately, the hope that had been aroused in the hearts of many people for the possibility of celebrating Christmas at home in Grindavík was extinguished with the start of the outbreak yesterday,” Jónasson said.
Marco Di Marco/AP
The volcano on Iceland's Reykjanes peninsula erupted on Monday evening.
Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
In the first two hours of the eruption, hundreds of cubic meters of lava were released per second.
Jónasson has also stressed the urgent need to “address the housing crisis” with full force and to help families who will not have secure housing in the coming weeks and months. Authorities are currently working on various housing solutions, he added.
All roads leading to Grindavík are closed and will remain closed in the coming days. Access is limited to emergency responders and contractors working on protective barriers, Jónasson explained.
While no infrastructure, roads or pipelines are currently at immediate risk, “Grindavíkurvegur could be in danger if the lava starts flowing west,” the mayor said, referring to the main road leading to Grindavík.
Hundreds of cubic meters of lava were released per second in the first two hours of the eruption on Monday.
However, according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office, the intensity and extent of seismic activity in the region had decreased by early Tuesday. By Tuesday evening, the eruption continued to weaken in terms of seismic activity and lava flow.
However, the Meteorological Office noted the volatility of the situation and warned that “the likelihood that further vents could open” is increasing, along the volcano's original fissure as well as “further north or south”.
Marco Di Marco/AP
Scientists from the University of Iceland take measurements and samples while standing on the crest of the eruption fissure of an active volcano near Grindavik, Iceland, on Tuesday, December 19.
Marco Di Marco/AP
An aerial photo shows volcanic activity in Grindavik on December 19th.
Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
People look at the volcano on the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwest Iceland.
Sigurdur Davidsson/Portal
A drone image shows lava spraying from the site of the volcanic eruption north of Grindavik on December 19th.
Icelandic Coast Guard/AP
This image from a video provided by the Icelandic Coast Guard shows his helicopter flying near magma.
Marco Di Marco/AP
A close-up of the southern active section of the original fissure of an active volcano in Grindavik on December 19th.
Viken Kantarci/AFP/Getty Images
The evacuated Icelandic town of Grindavik (right) is seen as smoke rises and lava is thrown into the air during the volcanic eruption.
Marco Di Marco/AP
A police vehicle is parked at the entrance to the road to Grindavík.
Kristin Elisabet Gunnarsdottir/AFP/Getty Images
Residents watch smoke rise as lava turns the night sky orange on December 19.
Iceland Civil Protection/Portal
A volcano spews lava and smoke as it erupts in Grindavik, Iceland, on Monday, December 18.
It added that the advance warning time for new vents “could be very short”.
The earthquake damage in the city was visible to a CNN team on site on Tuesday. However, it looks like residents' homes could be saved from further damage from the lava flows.
According to the Meteorological Office, the lava flow is currently estimated to be about a quarter of what it was when it first erupted, while only a third of the volcanic vent is still active.
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Geologists said early Tuesday that lava appeared to be flowing away from Grindavík, Portal reported.
In a positive sign for international travel, the Icelandic government said on Tuesday that international flight corridors would remain open. It added that fissure eruptions typically do not result in large explosions or significant ash production in the stratosphere.
Icelandair released a statement on Tuesday morning reiterating that the incident had no impact on its flight schedule.
Previous volcanic eruptions in Iceland have lasted weeks and sometimes even months. The Fagradalsfjall volcanic system first erupted in March 2021 and continued to spew fresh lava for a total of six months.
CNN's Frederik Pleitgen and Claudia Otto contributed to this report.
This is a developing story and will be updated.