Status: 11.11.2023, 06:55 a.m.
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Next to the Blue Lagoon, steam rises from the Grindavik geothermal power plant. © Raul Moreno/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
For days, the earth has been shaking in a volcanic area in the southwest of Iceland. The intensity increases. The Icelandic authorities warn of a possible eruption. It wouldn't be the first in the area.
Reykjavik - Due to the ongoing series of severe earthquakes in Iceland, the authorities on the North Atlantic island warn of even stronger quakes and a possible imminent volcanic eruption. The tremors near the town of Grindavík could become even more violent and ultimately lead to an eruption, the Icelandic police said on Friday evening. As a precaution, the evacuation of the village had been ordered. It is still being examined whether the magma is approaching the Earth's surface.
Due to the earthquake swarm north of Grindavík, the police declared a dangerous situation (hættustig). This level of the warning system means that the authorities see an increasing danger and measures are being taken to ensure the safety of people in the area.
The Icelandic meteorological agency Vedurstofa reported in the evening that the signs currently seen are comparable to those on the eve of the first eruption at the Fagradalsfjall volcano in 2021 and very similar to the seismic activity a month before this eruption. The most likely scenario now is that it will take several days rather than hours for the magma to reach the Earth's surface.
The renewed earthquake swarm on the Reykjanes Peninsula southwest of Reykjavik began almost two and a half weeks ago. Since then, there have been thousands of quakes, but on Friday afternoon they increased again in strength and frequency. According to data from the weather agency, several of them had a magnitude above 4.0 - one even of about 5.2.
Volcanic eruptions had already occurred on the peninsula in 2021, 2022 and this summer. They had each announced themselves with longer series of earthquakes. There was no danger to populated areas in any of the three eruptions.
This time, however, the Svartsengi geothermal power plant in the region was looked at with concern, whose employees. The Blue Lagoon geothermal bath, one of Iceland's biggest tourist attractions, has been temporarily closed due to the series of earthquakes. An evacuation plan was drawn up for Grindavík, a few kilometres further south. However, a model from the authorities on Friday did not indicate that lava would flow towards Grindavík in the event of an eruption. Dpa