Iceland: Iceland has declared an emergency due to a series of earthquakes and fear of a volcanic eruption. The country’s authorities have ordered thousands of people living in the southwestern town of Grindavík to evacuate as a precaution.
The Icelandic Met Office (IMO) stated that it is concerned that large amounts of magma—molten rock—are spreading underground and could surface there.
According to reports, thousands of tremors have been recorded around the nearby Fagradalsfjall volcano in recent weeks. They have been concentrated on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula, which experienced no volcanic activity for 800 years until an eruption occurred in 2021.
Recently, the increased seismic activity in the area prompted the closure of the nearby Blue Lagoon landmark. More than 20,000 tremors have been recorded in southwest Iceland since late October.
Iceland’s Civil Protection Agency commented that the decision to evacuate came after the IMO could not rule out that a “magma tunnel that is currently forming could reach Grindavík”. The agency stressed that people must leave the town but also emphasised that it was not an “emergency evacuation” calling on them to “remain calm because we have a good amount of time to react”.
“There is no immediate danger imminent; the evacuation is primarily preventive, with the safety of all Grindavík residents as the principal aim,” the statement added.
All roads into the town of around 4,000 people are closed other than for emergencies to ensure traffic can get in and out.
In a statement, the IMO remarked that “significant changes have occurred in the seismic activity,” with tremors moving towards Grindavík over the course of the day.
“The amount of magma involved is significantly greater than what was observed in the largest magma intrusions associated with the eruptions at Fagradalsfjall,” the office added.
Iceland is one of the most geographically active regions in the world, with around 30 active volcanic sites. In July 2023, Litli-Hrutur, or Little Ram, erupted in the Fagradalsfjall area, drawing tourists to the site of the “world’s newest baby volcano.”
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