Svartsengi

• Prize
  Gold in Editorial/General News, 2nd Place winner in Editorial
• Photographer
  Marco Di Marco
• Agency / Studio
  Ap - Associated Press
• Photo Date
  2023-2025

In November 2023, a seismic swarm split cracks through Grindavík, forcing evacuation of its 3,800 residents. In December, after 783 years of dormancy, the Svartsengi system reawakened, starting a new eruptive cycle on Iceland’s Reykjanes peninsula. Since then, nine fissure eruptions from Sundhnúkagígar have threatened Grindavík, the Blue Lagoon, and the Svartsengi power plant. Barriers diverted much lava, though roads and a few houses were lost. Each episode began with high effusion, then eased for weeks. Magma at 5 km depth suggests more to come, offering rare insights into rift volcanism.

Marco Di Marco is an Iceland-based photographer and videomaker with a background in geology, focusing on volcanic eruptions and Arctic landscapes. His work, distributed worldwide by the Associated Press, has been featured in The New York Times, CNN, BBC, ABC, NBC, CBS, Corriere della Sera, Rai, and other major outlets across print, television, and digital media. Recognized with awards including TIME’s Top 10 Photos of the Year and NPPA honors, Marco’s practice brings together scientific awareness and visual storytelling to share the evolving character of nature.