Thousands Evacuated as Volcanic Activity Threatens Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula
As seismic activity continues to increase on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula, thousands of residents have been forced to evacuate their homes amid fears of an imminent volcanic eruption.
The town of Grindavik, famed for the Blue Lagoon, has been evacuated as researchers detect evidence of rising magma to the ground surface. The Icelandic Met Office has recorded over 800 additional earthquakes between Wednesday and Friday, with more than 700 overnight on Tuesday and another 800 in roughly six hours early Wednesday morning.
Police officer Stefan Velemir told Reuters, “There is no one living here. From 3,800 to zero.” Massive cracks have formed in the city’s streets and sidewalks, with steam rising from many of these gaps. Sulfur dioxide has also been detected earlier this week, signifying that a volcanic eruption is likely to occur.
Residents are anxious and uncertain about the future of their homes. Einar Dagbjartsson, a 62-year-old pilot, compared the situation to being “like sitting in a very boring movie, but you’re stuck there, you can’t get out of it.” Another resident, Ingibjorn Gretarsdottir, described her difficulty in seeing her home in a designated red zone, where the ground has collapsed roughly 3 feet.
Amid the uncertainty, Dagbjartsson expressed hope for the survival of their vital harbor, stating, “Even though half of the town would go under, well, if the harbor will be OK, it’s going to build up again. If the harbor goes, I think it’s over.”
Meteorologists continue to warn that the likelihood of an eruption remains high, leaving residents like Dagbjartsson and Gretarsdottir in limbo as they await the fate of their homes and their town.