Iceland: the impressive images of the river of lava that runs through a town in that country

Icelandknown for its impressive landscape and geological activity, once again finds itself in the eye of the hurricane due to the volcano eruption that has captured global attention.

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This Sunday, in the southwest of the country, near the fishing village of Grindavik, an impressive river of lava began its relentless path through the city, causing alarm and amazement. This natural phenomenon has not only attracted attention due to its magnitude, but also due to the speed with which it has trapped several buildings in its voracious flames.

A series of catastrophic events

The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) has confirmed that this is the fifth volcanic eruption on the island in almost three yearswith a similar event occurring on December 18 in the same area.

According to the Icelandic public radio and television channel RÚV, “seismic activity intensified sharply during the night,” leading to the evacuation of Grindavik residentsa community of approximately 4,000 inhabitants, on the Reykjanes Peninsula.

The inhabitants had to abandon their homes around 3 a.m. on Sundaylocal time, in the face of imminent danger.

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CCTV cameras captured shocking images of bright orange lava flows moving along a fissure. These scenes have generated reactions of disbelief and astonishment.

Sveinn Ari Gudjonsson, a 55-year-old local resident, told AFP: “It's surreal. It's like watching a movie. In a small town like this we are all like a family, we all know each other, so it is a tragedy to see that.”

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Response and precaution of the authorities

The response from the authorities was immediate. Already in November last year, Grindavik had been evacuated as a precautionary measure, given the series of earthquakes that had been recorded in the previous dayscaused by the movement of magma under the Earth's crust, a clear indication of a possible eruption.

In addition, the Svartsengi geothermal power plant, located in the same area and which provides electricity and water to around 30 thousand inhabitants, has been placed under strict surveillance. The facilities are currently protected by a robust wall.

Iceland is located in a unique geological point, between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates, which makes it one of the most active volcanic regions on the planet.

With 33 volcanoes or volcanic systems classified as active, the country faces a constant challenge due to its geographical position. This location on the border of two tectonic plates and on a geological hot spot makes the island a frequent scene of volcanic eruptions.

This latest event in Grindavik highlights both the vulnerability and adaptive capacity of Icelanders in the face of the unpredictable nature of their land.

While the authorities and scientists continue to monitor the situationthe world watches with awe and respect at the power and beauty of Earth's natural processes.

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*This content was rewritten with the assistance of artificial intelligence, based on information from La Nación, and was reviewed by a journalist and an editor.