Iceland’s Blue Lagoon thermal spa has been forced to close as lava from a fresh volcanic eruption reached its car park.
The Icelandic Met Office confirmed that lava has never flowed this in the southwest of the country.
The eruption began late on Wednesday, creating a 3km-wide fissure, with lava flowing at a rate of 100 metres per hour.
In an update on Thursday, the organisation said: “By midday, lava reached the parking lot at the Blue Lagoon and continues to advance.
“This lava field has now extended farther west than any lava flow from previous eruptions.”
The Blue Lagoon said in a statement: “Due to a volcanic eruption that commenced in Sundhnúksgígar on November 20, we took the precautionary measure of evacuating and temporarily closing all our operational units.
“Blue Lagoon will be closed through Sunday, November 24, at which time the situation will be reassessed.
“All guests with bookings during this temporary closure will be contacted.”
Specialised protective barriers have been constructed to safeguard Blue Lagoon’s “vital infrastructure” against potential lava flows.
“This precautionary measure is based on expert analysis of various volcanic eruption scenarios,” the company added.
Picture credit: Icelandic Met Office