AFPLAerial photo of a bridge between tectonic plates on the Reykjanes Peninsula, near Grindavik
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 03:19
In Iceland, it has been decided to evacuate the town of Grindavik, about fifty kilometers southwest of the capital Reykjavík, due to a threatened volcanic eruption. It is the first time in three years that a place in Iceland has had to be completely evacuated, writes news site RUV.
A state of emergency has also been declared for the village with around 4,000 inhabitants. Authorities emphasize that the evacuation is a precautionary measure. Seismologists say that a magma tunnel runs under the village. As a result, it cannot be ruled out that a lava crack will develop in Grindavik.
It is not yet certain that the volcano on Mount Thorbjörn will actually erupt, but the chance of this has increased in recent hours. Earlier this week, the famous Blue Lagoon Spa was evacuated as a precaution.
Earthquakes
Volcanic activity in the area has increased in recent weeks. About 24,000 earthquakes have been recorded in Iceland since the end of last month. Yesterday there were about eight hundred, including a heavy one with a magnitude of 5.2.
On the peninsula where Grindavik is located – Reykjanes – there have been three volcanic eruptions since 2021. Before that, the volcanoes on the peninsula were dormant for more than 800 years.
There are about thirty active volcanoes in Iceland. In April 2010, the volcano under the Eyjafjallajökull glacier erupted. About 100,000 flights were then canceled, leaving 10 million travelers stranded worldwide.
2023-11-11 02:19:55
#Village #Iceland #evacuated #due #impending #volcanic #eruption
