REYKJAVIK, Iceland — A volcanic eruption lit up the sky over Iceland on Monday night, creating a 2½ mile fissure that sent a river of lava flowing toward surrounding towns and threw molten rock 300 feet into the air.
Police declared a state of emergency and tourists spots were closed as hundreds of cubic meters (thousands of cubic feet) of lava spewed across the Reykjanes Peninsula. The eruption took place in the southwestern part of the island, near the Keflavik International Airport, the capital city of Reykjavik and country's famous thermal springs.
The long-expected eruption was finally recorded at 10:17 p.m. (5:17 p.m. ET), according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office, which has closely monitored seismic activity in the area for weeks.
The lava flow has slowed since its peak late Monday night, with lava fountains falling from 300 feet to 100 feet, but authorities remain on high alert and evacuated areas remain off limits. Lovísa Mjöll Guðmundsdóttir, a natural hazard expert at the meteorological office, said that more cracks in the earth are possible.
More than 3,400 people in the small fishing town of Grindavík, 1.8 miles from the southern end of the fissure, were evacuated in November after it was hit by earthquakes and large cracks emitting plumes of steam appeared in roads.
More than 100 families from Grindavík are in urgent need of housing until at least January, Mayor Fannar Jónasson told the Icelandic public broadcaster RUV.
"Unfortunately, there are far too many families who are not doing well enough in that respect," he said.
Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir said Tuesday that she was grateful the evacuation was still in effect in Grindavík last night when news of the eruption arrived.
"Naturally, there was a certain impatience among the residents to be allowed to return home, as the evacuation has been going on for a long time," she said, adding that while the lava flow was currently not a threat to settlements, this could change.
The U.S Embassy in Reykjavik advised Americans to avoid the area surrounding the eruption and monitor local media for information and guidance.
Iceland volcano erupts, spewing fast-moving lava - NBC News
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