Magma chambers unchanged – Concern about volcanic eruption: Hundreds of earthquakes again in Iceland – News




Magma chambers unchanged – Concern about volcanic eruption: Hundreds of earthquakes again in Iceland – News – SRF
























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  • Between midnight and 6 a.m. (local time, 7 a.m. CET), Icelandic authorities registered around 880 earthquakes, public broadcaster RUV reported.
  • A volcanic eruption can occur on the Reykjanes Peninsula southwest of the capital Reykjavik.
  • The town of Grindavík had already been evacuated the previous night as a precaution.

Thousands of earthquakes – volcanic eruption threatens in Iceland

The tremors all remained below magnitude 3.0. It was therefore much quieter than the previous two nights, according to RUV. Nevertheless, a volcanic eruption can still occur on the Reykjanes Peninsula, southwest of the capital Reykjavik. However, data from the night showed no change in the magma chambers and did not indicate that activity was approaching the surface.

After a swarm of earthquakes lasting several days – a specific form of a series of earthquakes – the authorities evacuated the town of Grindavík with around 3,700 residents and also closed the nearby Blue Lagoon, the island’s best-known tourist attraction in the North Atlantic. Photos from the area show deep cracks in the streets and meter-wide holes in the ground. Significant damage to houses is expected. The Icelandic government wanted to discuss the situation at midday.

Difficult to predict location and time

The exact time of a possible volcanic eruption cannot be predicted, said Bjarki Kaldalóns Friis from the weather authority. The exact location can only be estimated. The magma tunnel now runs under Grindavík. But it is also possible that the eruption will take place under the sea.

President: “Turn smallness into strength”


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“We are still in the middle of it, but we are grateful that there were no injuries. There has been enormous damage to houses and buildings, but everything can be repaired,” Icelandic President Guðni Th. Jóhannesson told RUV.

«We are a small nation. This can be very useful in a harsh world. We can transform our smallness into strength. “Sometimes we are like a family,” the president continued. “We cannot control nature, but we can influence our own actions.”

The new series of earthquakes began almost two and a half weeks ago. Since then there have been thousands of quakes. Volcanic eruptions had already occurred in 2021, 2022 and this summer. They were each announced by longer series of earthquakes. However, there was no danger to populated areas in any of the three previous eruptions.


SRF 4 News, November 11, 2023, 2 a.m.;


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