A town in Iceland has been ordered to evacuate again after new volcanic fissures opened nearby

(CNN) — The Icelandic National Police Commissioner ordered residents of the fishing village of Grindavik, which was first evacuated in November, to evacuate again on Monday evening after volcanic fissures opened on roads in the area.

Grindavík, about 70 kilometers from the island's capital, Reykjavík, on the Reykjanes peninsula, will be able to remove the sun from the sun and activate the volcanic system that exposes the lava and the environment to the columns. humo al sky.

The city is also home to Iceland's famous Blue Lagoon, which attracts tourists for its evaporating geothermal waters and is one of the country's most visited attractions.

“It is assumed that the order will be in effect for the next three weeks,” the country's Civil Protection Agency said in a statement on Saturday, adding that the only exceptions to the order would be for authorities conducting official business or for residents. “…for short periods while we salvage valuables.”

The latest evacuation order comes after the Icelandic Meteorological Office reported on Friday that the risks associated with volcanic fissures were considered higher than in its previous assessment.

“Based on the risk assessment issued by the Civil Protection Department on January 12, continuing to live in Grindavik is not considered justified, in light of public safety considerations,” the government agency said.

The amount of magma reached a level similar to that found in The previous explosion was in DecemberThe agency said. But in the case of the latest eruption, the magma could “migrate further south” – compared to the previous eruption – and possibly reach the city of Grindavik.

The December eruption is believed to be the largest yet, according to officials.

In November, a state of emergency was declared.

Iceland volcanoes

Iceland is home to 32 active volcanoes and lies at the boundary of tectonic plates that are constantly splitting, pushing North America and Eurasia apart along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

As such, the country is accustomed to volcanic eruptions, although they often occur in wilderness areas, far from populated areas.

The Pararbunga volcanic system in the center of the country erupted in 2014, producing lava that covered 84 square kilometers (32 square miles) of highlands but did not harm any communities.

Experts do not expect the latest series of eruptions to cause the same level of chaos seen in 2010, when Eyjafjallajökull volcano erupted, as it is unlikely to have been glacial ice that caused the huge ash cloud.

About 100,000 flights were cancelled, affecting two million people, as a result of ash ejected by the volcanic eruption in 2010, which threatened to stop aircraft engines and cause electrical malfunctions.