Iceland has declared a state of emergency and urged residents to evacuate the coastal town of Grindavík following a series of intense earthquakes in the southwest of the country, which are associated with a potential volcanic eruption.
On Friday, nearly 800 earthquakes were recorded in a short period, some of them occurring at shallow depths of 1.86 to 2.18 miles. The Icelandic Meteorological Office has been monitoring this seismic activity closely.
The Icelandic Civil Protection Agency warned that a magma tunnel is forming and could reach Grindavík, but as of Friday evening, it remained uncertain if and where the magma might surface. Authorities stated that the earthquakes might intensify and potentially lead to an eruption, but there were no clear indications of imminent surface activity.
Magma is a mixture of molten and semi-molten rock beneath the Earth’s surface, which can result in a volcanic eruption when it breaches the surface, becoming lava.
While emphasizing the need for residents to evacuate calmly, the Civil Protection Agency assured that there was no immediate danger. They stressed the importance of preparedness and a safe departure.
The US Embassy in Iceland issued a volcano alert, cautioning about increased signs of volcanic activity and advising people to follow Icelandic authorities’ instructions in the event of an eruption. Potential volcanic hazards include lava, toxic gases, and fires caused by lava.
Notably, the famous Blue Lagoon thermal pool in the region has already closed due to the ongoing seismic activity. Iceland has experienced eruptions roughly every 12 months since 2021, with the most recent occurring in July south of Reykjavik, the capital.
Iceland’s unique geological location places it on a tectonic plate boundary, where the North American and Eurasian plates move apart along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. This geological setting results in a high level of volcanic activity, with 32 active volcanoes in the country.