Iceland on Alert: Evacuation Orders Issued Amid Volcano Eruption Fears
Iceland has issued a state of emergency as the potential for a volcanic eruption looms, following a sequence of earthquakes that have heightened concerns in the region.
Residents of Grindavík, a town in the southwest of Iceland, have been instructed to evacuate due to the growing risk. The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) has expressed alarm over the movement of substantial quantities of magma beneath the surface, which may lead to an eruption in the area.
The focus of concern is the Fagradalsfjall volcano, which has seen thousands of seismic events in recent weeks. These activities are particularly notable in the Reykjanes Peninsula, a region that had not experienced volcanic activity for eight centuries until an eruption in 2021.
Amid escalating seismic activities, the renowned Blue Lagoon, situated close to the area, was shut down on Thursday. The region has experienced over 20,000 tremors since late October.
The Civil Protection Agency of Iceland decided on the evacuation following the IMO's inability to discount the possibility of magma reaching Grindavík. The evacuation is described as precautionary, with authorities urging calm and stressing that there is sufficient time for a safe response.
As a preventive measure, all roads leading into Grindavík, home to approximately 4,000 residents, have been closed, except for emergencies.
The IMO, in a recent statement, noted "significant changes in the seismic activity," with tremors increasingly shifting towards Grindavík. They acknowledged that magma has likely spread beneath the town, but the exact location and potential emergence of the magma remain uncertain.
The amount of magma currently moving underground is reportedly greater than what was observed during the largest eruptions at Fagradalsfjall.
Iceland, one of the world's most geologically active areas, is home to around 30 active volcanoes. Volcanic eruptions typically occur when magma, lighter than the surrounding solid rock, ascends to the Earth's surface.
The Fagradalsfjall area witnessed an eruption in July from Litli-Hrutur, or Little Ram, attracting visitors to witness the birth of what was dubbed the "world's newest baby volcano." This site had been dormant for centuries until it erupted in 2021, 2022, and again in 2023.