Iceland volcano erupts: Houses on fire as lava hits fishing town – Europe Live

Houses on fire as lava from volcanic eruption reaches Icelandic town

Miranda Bryant

Houses caught fire in the fishing town of Grindavík in southwest Iceland after a second volcano erupted in less than a month.

Two fissures formed near the town on Sunday after an increase in seismic activity prompted authorities to evacuate the community the day before.

A first eruption began at 8 a.m. when a fissure opened in the ground about 450 meters from the city. Protective barriers of earth and rock pushed the lava from the first fissure away from the city. However, a second fissure then opened around midday on the edge of the town, measuring around 100 meters in the evening, and this lava engulfed homes.

At least three houses were gutted by the flames, live footage from RUV television channel showed.

Jets of glowing orange lava flowed and a huge cloud of smoke rose against the dark sky.

“In a small village like this, we are like a family, we all know each other like a family. It’s tragic to see this,” local resident Sveinn Ari Gudjonsson told Agence France-Presse. . “It’s unreal, it’s like watching a film,” adds this 55-year-old man who works in the fishing sector.

Read the full story here.

Key events

Here is drone footage from Icelandshowing lava engulfing houses in Grindavík.

Drone footage shows lava engulfing Grindavík in Iceland – video

How were you affected?

If you were affected by the eruption in Iceland, we would like to hear from you. Were you evacuated? Where are you now and what is your situation? Where are you staying? How did you feel when you left your home? What damage has your municipality suffered and what are your concerns?

Farmers gather for protest in Berlin

Farmers are demonstrating in Berlin today after a week of nationwide protests against planned cuts in subsidies to the agricultural sector.

Here are some photos of the German capital:

German farmers demonstrate near the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. Photograph: Liesa Johannssen/Reuters

Tractors drive past Berlin's Red Town Hall during a demonstration by farmers and truck drivers — Tractors drive past Berlin’s Red Town Hall during a demonstration by farmers and truck drivers. Photograph: John MacDougall/AFP/Getty Images

Here are some more pictures from yesterday.

Lava explosions and billows of smoke seen near residential buildings in the town of Grindavik, southwest Iceland. Photograph: Halldor Kolbeins/AFP/Getty Images

Smoke and flames coming from the volcano north of Grindavik on Saturday. Photo: Micah Garen/Getty Images

Here are some pictures from Iceland yesterday, as buildings were seen on fire in Fagradalsfjall, near Grindavík, following the second volcano eruption in less than a month.

Buildings on fire after volcano erupts in southwest Iceland – video

Geophysicist Magnús Tumi Guðmundsson said The Icelandic national broadcaster RÚV which that it appears that the southern fissure, closest to the fishing village of Grindavík, went out last night.

“In addition, the eruption has subsided elsewhere (in the other, larger fissure), so it has diminished considerably,” explained the geophysicist.

In a address to the nation yesterday, the Icelandic president, Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, said the country “must remain hopeful.”

He said:

What we all hoped wouldn’t happen has become reality. It happened that the lava flowed towards Grindavík, a prosperous town where people built their lives, engaged in fishing and other pursuits, and created a community in harmony with God and each other.

The president added:

Even though we find ourselves in turmoil today, we must remain hopeful. In some cases, this hope may be based on faith.

Lava once spread across the Vestmannaeyjar Islands and ash covered the community. But the church gate did not burn. The words “I live and you all shall live” were written on the door and are still present today.

But our hope can also rest on reason, on scientific knowledge and on our ability to stay, despite everything, one step ahead of the forces of nature.

“What angered the gods so much when the lava flowed to where we are now? » This was the response given by the chief Snorri Þorgrímsson when it was claimed in Þingvellir more than a thousand years ago that the gods had shown their anger towards the Christians by pouring lava on the settlements.

People of Iceland. Since then, we have overcome various challenges, generation after generation, while enjoying the blessings of this county, this land of striking beauty.

We now wait, hope and take things as they come. And now all our plans for the future must take into account that a period of formidable upheaval has begun on the Reykjanes Peninsula.