Volcano Erupts in Iceland, Sending Smoke Into the Sky as Lava Flows Below

Posted: December 20, 2023 2:27 pm

A number of global weather events have been grabbing the headlines this week. This includes a major volcanic eruption in Iceland, a deadly earthquake in China, flooding rainfall in Australia, and a massive windstorm in Argentina. Here is a look at what is happening around the world this week.

Iceland Experiences Major Volcanic Eruption

A volcano erupted on the Reykjanes peninsula on Iceland Monday at about 10 pm local time, roughly one hour after an earthquake shook the region. According to the Icelandic Meteorological Office, the fissure opening measures nearly 4 kilometers long. This marks the fourth eruption in the region since 2021.

The eruption happened close to Hagafell, located about 3 kilometers to the north of the town of Grindavik. This town is only 7 kilometers from the famous Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, the most popular tourist attraction in Iceland.

Video footage shows plumes of smoke wafting into the sky as glowing lava erupts from the fissure in the ground. Residents of Grindavik were ordered to evacuate the area late Monday night. Home to about 3,000 people, the town is now empty as residents fled the threat of the flowing lava.

Iceland’s government officials said that the eruption does not pose any threat to life, however, it strongly cautioned people to stay away from the area. A rash of earthquake activity in the region over the last month prompted local officials to issue an evacuation order for residents of Grindavik last month due to the risk of a resulting eruption.

The eruption could last several days. As of Tuesday afternoon, flights in and out of Iceland had not been impacted by the event. Iceland is a busy airport hub between the U.S. and Europe.

China Earthquake Claims Over 100 Lives

A late Monday earthquake in northwest China killed at least 126 people and injured hundreds more, according to state media. Rescue crews were working overtime to find survivors as freezing temperatures set into the region.

The earthquake is now the deadliest such weather event for China in almost a decade. The quake struck Jishishan county in Gansu Province, causing severe damage to roads and homes. State media confirmed the deaths of at least 113 people as of Tuesday in Gansu as well as injuries to 536 more individuals. Sources said that over 155,000 homes are reporting damage in Gansu.

An additional 13 fatalities and 182 injuries were reported in the neighboring province of Qinghai. As of noon Tuesday, 20 more people were still missing in this province.

The event happened just before midnight as many people were sleeping. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported that that the quake measured a 5.9-magnitude with a relatively shallow depth of slightly over 6 miles. At least nine aftershocks with magnitudes of 3 and above were confirmed after the initial earthquake. The epicenter of the quake was centered near the border between Gansu and Qinghai, a mountainous and rocky region located along the eastern fringe of the Tibetan plateau.

Cold temperatures in the region will complicate the efforts of crews to reach survivors potentially buried under the rubble. The forecast is calling for temperatures to fall to just below zero across many of the communities that have been impacted by the event for the next three days. Experts said that the bitter cold will pose the biggest challenge to rescuers as the window of time to reach survivors will be much smaller than normal.

Many areas of China have been dealing with a cold snap in recent days. The mercury has dropped to near historic low readings in some parts of the northern edge of the country.

Provincial officials said that they have dispatched at least 4,000 firefighters, police officers, and soldiers to the primary impact zone. The crews are arriving with thousands of tents and beds for shelter, blankets, and portable fire pits.

China’s Finance Ministry and Emergency Management Ministry has earmarked approximately $28 million in funding to provide relief to the two provinces affected by the natural disaster.

Australia Gripped by Flooding Event

Flooding triggered by tropical cyclone Jasper has inundated areas of northern Queensland in Australia, dumping about a year’s worth of moisture in some communities. Airplane became stuck on a runway in Cairns as the rain refused to let up. The city of Cairns has recorded over 7 feet of rain since the storm moved onshore.

The settlement of Wujal Wujal was initially set to be evacuated, however, rescuers had to call off the operation because of dangerous conditions. The remote town is located approximately 110 miles north of Cairns. Authorities said that nine people were forced to spend the night on a roof as the waters continued to rise.

Looking ahead, while the rain began to ease on Tuesday, rivers and other waterways in the region have yet to reach their peak flood stage. These waterways will remain swollen for several days.

Fortunately, there have been no confirmed deaths as a result of the extreme weather. However, officials estimate that the damage will end up at about $670 million USD. This recent flooding event is another in a long list of natural disasters that have impacted Australia in recent years, including severe drought, wildfires, and a half of a dozen mass bleaching events across the country’s famed Great Barrier Reef.

Windstorm Kills Over a Dozen in Argentina

A powerful windstorm has killed at least 13 people in the southwestern Argentinian port city of Bahía Blanca. Mayor Federico Susbielles confirmed the fatalities in addition to several more injuries. Winds as high as 87 mph over the weekend forced the evacuation of hundreds of people in the dark of the night.

The city council said that the bulk of the fatalities and injuries happened at sports club Bahiense del Norte. Mayor Susbielles declared three days for mourning for the city while reminding residents to stay home as rescue crews worked to assess the damage and repair live downed power lines.

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