Iceland has declared a state of emergency and conducted overnight evacuations after experiencing a significant increase in seismic activity surrounding the Fagradalsfjall volcano. The Civil Defence issued a Level of Emergency late on November 10, leading to the mandatory evacuation of all residents in the southwestern town of Grindavík. This decision was made due to evidence suggesting the existence of a magma tunnel in the area.
The Icelandic Met Office reported that approximately 800 earthquakes had been detected since midnight on November 11, indicating a “considerable” probability of a volcanic eruption in the near future. Thorvaldur Thordarson, a professor of volcanology at the University of Iceland, stated that the chances of an eruption had significantly increased, estimating that it could occur within a matter of “hours or a few days.”
In response to the situation, the national public service broadcaster RÚV opened a live blog to provide continuous updates. Meanwhile, local photographer Ragnar Visage captured aerial footage of the deserted Grindavík using his drone. Visage described the scene as “spooky and eerie,” as he encountered no signs of human presence for nearly two hours. Eventually, rescue services requested that he leave the area.
The situation remains tense as authorities closely monitor the volcanic activity in Iceland.
