2023-11-11 10:35:18
Nature danger situation declared due to series of earthquakes in Iceland
Next to the Blue Lagoon, steam rises from the Grindavik geothermal power plant. photo
© Raul Moreno/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
The earth has been shaking in a volcanic area in the southwest of Iceland for days. The intensity increases. Icelandic authorities warn of a possible eruption. It wouldn’t be the first in the area.
In Iceland, authorities have more than 400 as of midnight Earthquake registered. Of these, 15 had a magnitude of more than 3.0 and two of more than 4.0, the radio station RUV reported on Saturday. But expert Bjarki Kaldalóns Friis from the weather agency said the number of tremors had decreased compared to the previous day. They are also no longer so heavy. Nevertheless, according to scientists, a volcanic eruption would occur if the earthquakes continued.
As a precaution, the town of Grindavík with around 3,700 residents was evacuated overnight. The nearby Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, one of the island’s biggest tourist attractions in the North Atlantic, was also closed. However, air traffic to Keflavik International Airport was not affected.
The exact timing of a volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula, southwest of the capital Reykjavik, cannot be predicted, Friis said. The exact location can only be estimated. The magma tunnel now runs under Grindavík. But it is possible that the eruption will take place under the sea.
The new earthquake swarm began almost two and a half weeks ago. Since then there have been thousands of quakes. Volcanic eruptions had already occurred on the peninsula in 2021, 2022 and this summer. They were each announced by longer series of earthquakes. There was no danger to populated areas in all three eruptions.
Vedurstofa live stream from the Civil Protection Authority area on the earthquake danger level of the past 48 hours
dpa
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