A volcanic eruption in Southwestern Iceland forced the evacuation of a nearby town and the world-famous Blue Lagoon geothermal spa on Wednesday, July 16. Media images captured huge plumes of smoke and glowing lava flows spewing from an enormous crack in Earth’s surface roughly 30 miles (18.6 miles) southwest of Reykjavík.

The EU’s General Court ruled that Iceland Foods cannot hold exclusive rights to the name “Iceland,” finding the mark descriptive of geographic origin and misleading for consumers.

The eruption occurred in the early hours of July 16. Officials say lava is flowing towards uninhabited areas and is not an immediate danger to those nearby

A volcano in Iceland erupted on Wednesday, July 16, 2025 near the Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland. Intense seismic activity before the Sundhnukur volcano eruption prompted Icelandic authorities to evacuate surrounding areas, including hotels and the popular ...