Iceland volcano spews whirling tornadoes

A volcano and a tornado in the same place might sound like a scene from an apocalypse movie but that’s the current reality in Iceland.

Iceland’s newest volcano, Litli-Hrútur, erupted on July 10, spewing out lava, ash, methane explosions, and tornadoes.

Loud bangs echoed from the eruption site on the Reykjanes Peninsula last week, according to the Icelandic Met Office.

The ‘baby volcano’ has triggered a whirling tornado, which can be seen rising into the sky in a YouTube video posted on July 24.

These tornadoes are formed when the hot air from the lava flow rises and meets cooler air, creating a spinning vortex.

They are not typically dangerous, but officials have warned people to stay away from the area due to the risk of burns and explosions.

The name Litli-Hrútur means ‘Little Ram’ in Icelandic as it’s only about 100 meters tall. However, it has been erupting vigorously, sending lava flows and ash into the air.

‘When lava flows over a vegetated area, methane gas can be produced when the vegetation does not burn completely,’ said the Icelandic Met Office said in a translated Facebook post.

‘The gas then accumulates in gaps and cavities in the lava. When an ember or flame from the fire breaks into it, an explosion occurs,’ said the post.

The eruption of Litli-Hrútur is the latest in a series of volcanic events in Iceland. In 2021, the Fagradalsfjall volcano erupted after being dormant for 800 years.

The eruption of Fagradalsfjall was a major tourist attraction, and thousands of people visited the area to see the lava flows and ash clouds.

Volcanic activity is common in Iceland, as the country sits on a volcanic hot spot.

The last major eruption in Iceland was in 2010, when the Eyjafjallajökull volcano erupted, sending ash clouds into the atmosphere that disrupted air travel across Europe.

MORE : Tourists’ frantic scramble to escape volcano when they realise it’s erupting

MORE : Huge volcano erupts in Iceland after 5.2-magnitude earthquake and spews lava

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.