Startling Video of Iceland Volcano Eruption Quickly Goes Viral

A jaw-dropping aerial video shared on social media shows a volcano erupting in Iceland on Monday.

Monday's eruption, which began shortly after 10 p.m. local time, was not unexpected as scientists warned an one was looming, but the event was much larger than expected, according to media reports. The location of the more than 2.5-mile volcanic fissure, which is oozing lava through the cracks, poses a risk to a nearby power plant and town, the New York Times reports.

Scientists have been monitoring the situation for months after magma, which is molten rock beneath the ground, has been showing signs of erupting as lava in a volcanic explosion. Last week, researchers shared their latest findings, following tests around the Icelandic southwest region of Svartsengi.

Iceland had been bracing for a significant eruption after huge cracks had opened up in the ground, splitting roads in two, as a series of earthquakes rocked the region. The town of Grindavík, where 4,000 people call home, has been evacuated prior to Monday's eruption.

Nahel Belgherze shared an incredible aerial video on X, formerly Twitter. The clip, which quickly amassed more than 800,000 views in less than 2 hours on the social media platform, also garnered nearly 10,000 likes and 4,000 shares.

"JUST IN: First aerial footage captured just minutes ago of the newly opened volcanic fissure near Grindavík, Iceland," Nahel Belgherze posted on X. "It is estimated to be about 3 km long!"

Newsweek reached out via email on Monday night to the Icelandic Meteorological Office for an update.

The Icelandic Meteorological Office said in an update on the volcanic eruption early Tuesday morning that the latest aerial observations and seismicity, show the fissure is "expanding to the south."

"At the time of publication, the southern end of the fissure was close to Sundhnúkur," the weather agency said in an online statement shortly after 2 a.m. local time on Tuesday.

During the first two hours of the eruption, the rate of lava discharge "was thought to be on a scale of hundreds of cubic meters per second, with the largest lava fountains on the northern end of the fissures," according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office.

The agency said that real-time GPS measurements showed areas of "significant" ground deformation.

Around midnight local time, the level of seismicity at the eruption site began to decrease, the meteorological office said.

AccuWeather shared a video on X showing thick smoke that prompted road closures.

"Volcano erupts near Grindavik after weeks of intense earthquake activity," AccuWeather posted on X. "Footage shows thick smoke wafting skyward and lava spewing from the volcano's mouth. The Icelandic Road Administration announced the closure of all roads in the area."

The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service is live-streaming the volcanic eruption on YouTube.