State of emergency: threat of volcanic eruption in Iceland called

The island Scandinavian country is experiencing alarming underground activity.

Iceland declares a state of emergency due to the threat of a volcanic eruption. Powerful earthquakes are shaking the southwest of the Scandinavian island country on the Reykjanes Peninsula, increasing the likelihood of a natural disaster.

Icelandic authorities have declared a state of emergency after a series of powerful earthquakes rocked the country’s southwestern Reykjanes Peninsula, signaling an increased likelihood of a volcanic eruption in the region, The Guardian writes.

“The Chief of the National Police… declares a state of emergency for civil defense purposes due to strong earthquake (activity) in Sundhnyukagigar, north of Grindavik,” the Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management said in a statement.

“Earthquakes could become larger than those that have occurred, and this series of events could lead to an eruption,” the administration warned.

The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) said the eruption could occur “in a few days.”

The village of Grindavik, home to about 4,000 people, is located 1.86 miles (3 km) southwest of the area where Friday’s earthquake was recorded. He has evacuation plans in case the volcano erupts.

At about 1730 GMT, two strong earthquakes were felt on Friday in the capital Reykjavik, 40 km away, and along much of the country’s southern coast, shaking windows and household items.

According to preliminary IMO data, the strongest earthquake north of Grindavik had a magnitude of 5.2, The Guardian notes.

Police closed the north-south road to Grindavik on Friday after it was damaged by the earthquakes.

The peninsula has recorded 24,000 tremors since the end of October, according to the IMO, with a “dense swarm” of almost 800 tremors recorded between midnight and 1400 GMT on Friday.

The IMO noted the accumulation of magma underground at a depth of about 5 km. If it starts to move towards the surface, it could lead to a volcanic eruption.

“The most likely scenario is that the magma will take days rather than hours to reach the surface,” it says. “If a crack were to appear where seismic activity is currently highest, lava would flow to the southeast and west, but not towards Grindavik.”

Since 2021, there have been three eruptions on the Reykjanes Peninsula – in March 2021, August 2022 and July 2023. These three sites were located far from any infrastructure or populated areas.

On Thursday, the Blue Lagoon, located near Grindavik and famous for its geothermal spas and luxury hotels, was closed as a precaution after another earthquake.

Also nearby is the Svartsengi geothermal plant, the main supplier of electricity and water to the 30,000 inhabitants of the Reykjanes Peninsula. It has contingency plans to protect the plant and its workers in the event of an eruption.

Iceland has 33 active volcanic systems, which is the largest number in Europe, The Guardian emphasizes.