Iceland is on high alert as a series of powerful earthquakes shook the country's southwestern Reykjanes peninsula, signaling a possible volcanic eruption in the near future.
The authorities declared a state of emergency and evacuated thousands of residents from the area, as experts warned that the situation could escalate in the next few days.
State of emergency declared as thousands of tremors shake the Reykjanes peninsula
JEREMIE RICHARD/AFP via Getty Images
Iceland declared a state of emergency on Friday after a series of powerful earthquakes rocked the country's southwestern Reykjanes peninsula, in what could be a precursor to a volcanic eruption.
The Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management warned that earthquakes could become larger than those that have occurred and that this series of events could lead to an eruption.
The Icelandic Met Office (IMO) predicted an eruption "within a few days."
Grindavik, a village of about 4,000 people, is located about three kilometers (1.86 miles) southwest of the location of Friday's earthquake swarm.
In the event of an eruption, it has evacuation plans in place. Two strong earthquakes were felt as far away as Reykjavik, some 40 kilometers away, along much of the country's southern coast, rattling windows and household objects.
The most recent tremors forced the temporary closure of Iceland's famous Blue Lagoon spa.
According to the IMO, 24,000 tremors have been recorded on the peninsula since late October, with a "dense swarm" of nearly 800 quakes recorded between midnight and 1400 GMT Friday.
The IMO noted an accumulation of magma underground at a depth of about five kilometers (3.1 miles). Should it start moving towards the surface it could lead to a volcanic eruption.
The IMO stated that the most likely scenario was that it would take several days rather than hours for magma to reach the surface.
It also predicted that if a fissure were to appear where the seismic activity was at its highest now, lava would flow to the southeast and to the west, but not towards Grindavik.
Residents and experts brace for a possible volcanic eruption that could last for weeks
The Fagradalsfjall volcano on the Reykjanes peninsula threatens to "obliterate" the town of Grindavik, with 4,000 residents evacuated after a state of emergency declared.
The volcano has been dormant for 800 years but has shown signs of awakening in recent months.
A volcanologist from the University of Iceland said that the volcano could erupt in the next few days and that the eruption could last for weeks or even months.
He said that the lava flow could reach up to 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from the fissure and that the eruption could produce ash clouds that could disrupt air traffic.
The Department of Civil Protection stated that the patrol vessel Thor was being sent to Grindavik "for security purposes."
Emergency shelters and help centers were set to open on Friday in Grindavik, as well as three other locations in southern Iceland, to provide information and assistance to people on the move.
The department stated that it was closely monitoring the situation and preparing for any possible scenarios in collaboration with the IMO, police, municipalities, and other agencies.
Three eruptions have occurred on the Reykjanes peninsula since 2021: in March 2021, August 2022, and July 2023.
These three were located in remote areas with no infrastructure or people.
Following another earthquake swarm, the Blue Lagoon, located near Grindavik and famous for its geothermal spas and luxury hotels, closed as a precaution on Thursday.
Iceland has 33 active volcanic systems, the highest number in Europe.
The country is located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are moving apart, creating a hotspot of volcanic and seismic activity.
The last time Iceland experienced a major volcanic eruption was in 2010, when the Eyjafjallajokull volcano spewed ash clouds that disrupted air travel across Europe for several days.
