Iceland Declares State of Emergency After 800 Earthquakes Within 14 Hours
Iceland has declared a state of emergency following a series of powerful earthquakes in the country’s southwestern Reykjanes peninsula. Experts believe that these earthquakes could be a sign of an impending volcanic eruption.
The Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management released a statement saying, “The National police chief declares a state of emergency for civil defense due to the intense earthquake activity at Sundhnjukagigar, north of Grindavik.” They also warned that the earthquakes could become even stronger and potentially lead to an eruption.
The Icelandic Met Office (IMO) has stated that an eruption could occur “in several days.” The village of Grindavik, which is home to around 4,000 people, is located near the area where the earthquake swarm occurred. It has evacuation plans in place in case of an eruption.
The earthquakes were felt as far away as the capital city of Reykjavik, approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) away, and along the southern coast of the country. The tremors caused windows and household objects to shake. As a result of the damage caused by the earthquakes, a road running north-south to Grindavik was closed by the police.
According to the IMO, there have been approximately 24,000 tremors registered on the Reykjanes peninsula since late October. Almost 800 quakes were registered between midnight and 2:00 PM GMT on Friday. The IMO has also observed an accumulation of magma underground at a depth of about five kilometers (3.1 miles), which could potentially lead to a volcanic eruption if it reaches the surface.
The IMO has stated that it is most likely that it will take several days for the magma to reach the surface. However, they have reassured that if a fissure were to appear where the seismic activity is currently highest, the lava would flow away from Grindavik.
As a precautionary measure, the Department of Civil Protection is sending the patrol vessel Thor to Grindavik for security purposes. Emergency shelters and help centers are being opened in Grindavik and other locations in southern Iceland to provide information and assistance to people who may need to move.
The Blue Lagoon, a popular tourist destination near Grindavik, has been closed as a precaution. The Svartsengi geothermal plant, which supplies electricity and water to 30,000 residents on the Reykjanes peninsula, has contingency plans in place to protect its infrastructure and workers in the event of an eruption.
Iceland has a total of 33 active volcanic systems, the highest number in Europe. The country is located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a crack in the ocean floor that separates the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. Prior to the eruption in March 2021, the Reykjanes volcanic system had been dormant for eight centuries.
Volcanologists believe that this increased activity could last for several decades or even centuries. Iceland experienced a major eruption in April 2010 at the Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which caused widespread disruption to air travel.
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