Posted on November 13, 2023

Based on initial data, the most significant seismic event recorded north of Grindavik had a magnitude of 5.2.

On Friday, Iceland declared a state of emergency following a series of potent earthquakes in the south-western Reykjanes peninsula, potentially signalling an imminent volcanic eruption. The Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management issued a statement, stating, “The National police chief… declares a state of emergency for civil defence due to the intense earthquake activity at Sundhnjukagigar, north of Grindavik.” Authorities warned that the ongoing seismic events could escalate, leading to an eruption.

The Icelandic Met Office (IMO) indicated that an eruption might occur “in several days.” Grindavik, a village housing around 4,000 residents, is situated approximately three kilometres southwest of the earthquake epicentre. The village has evacuation plans in place in case of an eruption.

Two strong earthquakes, felt as far as Reykjavik, occurred around 17:30 GMT, rattling windows and objects along the southern coast. The largest tremor, according to preliminary IMO figures, measured 5.2 in magnitude north of Grindavik.

In response to the damage caused by the tremors, the police closed a north-south road to Grindavik. Since late October, approximately 24,000 tremors have been registered on the Reykjanes peninsula, with nearly 800 recorded between midnight and 14:00 GMT on Friday.

The IMO observed an accumulation of magma about five kilometres underground and suggested that if it moves towards the surface, a volcanic eruption could ensue. The department cautioned that while a fissure might appear in the area of heightened seismic activity, lava flow would likely head southeast and west, away from Grindavik.

Despite this, the Department of Civil Protection dispatched the patrol vessel Thor to Grindavik for security purposes. Emergency shelters opened in Grindavik and three other locations in southern Iceland to provide information and assistance to those on the move.

Notably, the Blue Lagoon, a popular tourist spot near Grindavik, closed as a precaution, along with the Svartsengi geothermal plant, the primary supplier of electricity and water to 30,000 Reykjanes peninsula residents.

Iceland, with 33 active volcanic systems, sits atop the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, straddling the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. The recent seismic activity follows three eruptions on the Reykjanes peninsula in 2021, 2022, and 2023, though those were in uninhabited areas. Volcanologists anticipate increased volcanic activity, potentially lasting for decades or centuries, following the eight-century dormancy of the Reykjanes volcanic system prior to the March 2021 eruption.

In 2010, the Eyjafjallajokull volcano eruption led to widespread flight cancellations, leaving over 10 million travelers stranded.

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