Iceland: – 1,400 earthquakes in the last 24 hours

The authorities in Iceland fear that the magma has reached the surface. On Friday evening, the town of Grindavik, southwest of Reykjavik, was evacuated in a short time.

For several days, people have been waiting for a volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula, where, among other things, Keflavik Airport and the hot springs known as the Blue Lagoon are located. Strong earthquakes have been reported in the metropolitan area, writing NRC.

Reports stated that the police chief in the region, in cooperation with the Civil Defense, decided to evacuate the city of Grindavik, which has a population of just over 3,000 people on the southern side of Reykjanes. RÚV. The broadcaster stated that the strong sliding in the Sundhnúka craters may indicate the arrival of magma to the surface.

Scientists have warned of the possibility of an explosive volcanic eruption soon. Since March 2021, there have been three eruptions in the area.

Closed lake

The Blue Lagoon has been closed for a week due to concerns about an upcoming major volcanic eruption.

In recent days, hundreds of earthquakes have been measured in the area surrounding the world-famous geothermal resort.

From midnight to 2 p.m. Friday afternoon, 800 earthquakes were measured in the area, according to National Weather Institute of Iceland.

– It cannot be ruled out

It is described that earthquakes occur frequently. Nine of them received a score of three on the Richter scale. A magnitude 4.1 earthquake was recorded near Selinjarville.

In order for as many people as possible to feel it, the earthquake must have a magnitude of more than three, according to the report. Norwegians.

The depth of the earthquakes is estimated at about five kilometers.

The earthquakes also caused severe damage to roads.

130 earthquakes in one hour

Such swarms of earthquakes have previously been recorded in this region. It cannot be ruled out that the seismic activity near Sundhnjúkagígar is due to magma movements, writes the Icelandic Weather Institute.

Fear of disease outbreak

It is feared that an eruption will occur in the Fagradalsfjall volcanic area on the Reykjanes Peninsula.

Fagradalsfjall is the same volcanic area where a major volcanic eruption occurred in 2021.

A previous edition of this issue reported that a volcanic eruption occurred at the smaller volcano, Letli-Hertur, on Friday afternoon. this is not true. It is true that lava came out of the volcano on Monday. This has been corrected.