A volcanic eruption began on the Sundhnúkur crater row shortly before four o'clock last night. The eruption has had no impact on the operation of the power plant in Svartsengi. This is the ninth eruption on the crater row Sundhnúkur in less than two years, with the first eruption occurring in December 2023.

Employees on call in Svartsengi last night moved to the Reykjanes power plant shortly after midnight when the Civil Protection alarm went off. From Reykjanes power plant, it is possible to remotely control the power plant in Svartsengi. The emergency management team was activated at the same time as the evacuation took place and it is closely monitoring the progress of the eruption.

The police allowed staff and contractors, who are working on the expansion and improvements of the power plant in Svartsengi, to enter the area early this morning so there were no delays caused by the eruption. Significant gas pollution is emanating from the eruption sites, but the wind direction means it does not disrupt operations in Svartsengi at present. Air quality in the area is being closely monitored.

The warning system, which measures borehole pressure in Svartsengi and is used by the Meteorological Office to assess imminent eruptions, issued a warning around half past two last night - more than two hours before the eruption began. The system was designed and developed by a team of scientists in the resource management at HS Orka following the first eruption on the Sundhnúkur crater row. It has since then provided indications of imminent eruptions every time volcanic activity has occurred in the area.