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![Picture taken with a drone on April 13, 2024 at Svartsengi near Grindavik, Iceland, shows an aerial view of a volcanic eruption at Sundhnukagigar in southwest Iceland, ongoing for a month. (Photo by Jeremie RICHARD / AFP) / TO GO WITH AFP STORY by Jeremie RICHARD (Photo by JEREMIE RICHARD/AFP via Getty Images)](https://c3.oann.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/GettyImages-2147843573-800x450.jpg)
OAN’s Cameron Walker
8:20 AM –Thursday, May 30, 2024
A volcano in southwestern Iceland has experienced it’s fifth eruption since December of last year.
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On Wednesday, the coastal town of Grindavik, alongside the iconic Blue Lagoon, was evacuated due to the volcanic eruption at the Sundhnúkur crater. Around 3,000 people reside in the town.
Officials say the volcano erupted after a series of earthquakes in the region. Lava eruptions reached 164 feet high and the fissure length was around two miles.
“The first assessment of scientists is that the beginning of this eruption is more powerful than in previous eruptions,” the Icelandic Meteorological Office said in a statement.
A member of the search and rescue team gave assessment on the situation.
“The Blue Lagoon was evacuated first and there were a lot of guests there. I can say a number but that would be a lie, probably over a hundred,” search and rescue team member Bergvin Snær Andrésson said. “And also, there were some people that live in Grindavik and also working there that were also evacuated. It’s different from day to day basis. But we knew about it early on so we could evacuate (them) before the eruption happened.”
In the meantime, officials are still monitoring the situation but they maintain that they have it under control.
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