Iceland Prepares for “Imminent” Volcanic Eruption with Only 30-Minute Warning
Authorities in Iceland are on high alert due to severe weather conditions leading up to an expected “imminent” volcanic eruption. The eruption is anticipated to occur in Grindavik, a fishing port located approximately 40 kilometers from the capital city, Reykjavik. Following a series of earthquakes caused by shifting magma beneath the Earth’s crust, the city’s 4,000 residents were evacuated on November 11. The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) has now revealed that the volcanic eruption could happen with just a 30-minute notice, as magma is currently situated just below the surface, as reported by the Independent.
Kristin Jonsdottir, a senior official at the IMO, explained that the prediction is based on a decrease in earthquake activity, which suggests that magma has approached very close to the Earth’s surface. Jonsdottir added that people will have to wait anxiously over the next few days to see how events unfold.
Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir expressed confidence in Iceland’s preparedness for volcanic eruptions and other natural disasters, asserting that no other country is better equipped. She stated during a press conference on Saturday, “We have extensive experience in dealing with volcanic eruptions. We understand that it may not be prudent to construct defense mechanisms when there is significant uncertainty regarding the location of an eruption.”
The most recent volcanic eruption in the Reykjanes peninsula occurred in 2021, marking the first eruption in eight centuries. Iceland is home to 33 active volcano systems, the highest number in Europe, and has experienced previous volcanic disasters in various towns.
(Note: The article has been rewritten and is now approximately 242 words long.)
