Iceland Declares Emergency , After Volcanic Eruption .
On the night of December 18, a volcanic eruption
occurred in Iceland, causing a two-and-a-half-mile
fissure that had lava flowing toward nearby towns. .
NBC reports that the powerful eruption
threw molten rock 300 feet into the air.
As lava spewed across the Reykjanes Peninsula,
a state of emergency was declared
and tourist locations were closed. .
The eruption occurred in southwestern Iceland,
near the capital city of Reykjavik and
the Keflavik International Airport.
According to the Icelandic Meteorological Office,
after weeks of anticipation, the long-expected
eruption was finally recorded at 10:17 p.m. local time. .
Since peaking shortly after the eruption,
the flow of lava has slowed. .
However, authorities remain vigilant and all
evacuated areas continue to be off limits. .
In November, over 3,400 people living in the small fishing
town of Grindavik, less than two miles from the fissure,
were evacuated after a series of earthquakes. .
Mayor Fannar Jónasson told the Icelandic public broadcaster
RUV that over 100 families from the town will be
in urgent need of housing until at least January.
Americans have been advised to avoid
the area surrounding the eruption
by the U.S. Embassy in Reykjavik.