Fourth Fissure Opens in Fagradalsfjall: Video

Fissure number four opened in Fagradalsfjall mountain, Southwest Iceland, Saturday morning, marking the beginning of chapter four of the eruption saga that began on the Reykjanes peninsula March 19.

Mbl.is’ surviving webcam  (the other one having perished in lava) conscientiously recorded the event, which occurred at 3:13 am. In less than a minute and a half, you can watch in the time-lapse video above what happened at the eruption site between the hours of 2:45 am and 6 am Saturday morning.

First, you see the fires in complete darkness. Then the new eruption appears in the right half of the frame. Slowly, the surrounding snow-covered mountains come to light at dawn. It is truly spectacular.

Scientists do not rule out the possibility of additional fissures opening in the coming days or weeks, mbl.is reports.

“There are indications that magma is located not far from the surface in the area extending from the southern part of Geldingadalir valleys and all the way northeast of the current fissures,” scientist concluded atlast week’s meeting of the Scientific Council of the Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management, vedur.is reports. They warned that the opening of a new fissure could happen suddenly, putting people at risk.