Iceland volcano live: Met Office records strongest earthquake in 48 hours as fears over eruption remains
Huge cracks appear on roads in Icelandic town at risk of volcanic eruption
The strongest earthquake in 48 hours was detected near the evacuated town of Grindavik this morning, as the Icelandic Met Office continues to warn of the “persistent likelihood of an imminent eruption”.
In its latest update, the forecaster said there were around 300 earthquakes on Sunday, with a “swarm” near the town which lasted just over an hour before midnight.
They included a earthquake with a magnitude of 3, located three miles north easts of Grindavik, at 00.26am on Monday. Over the previous 48 hours, the strongest earthquake had a 2.7 magnitude.
A fortnight ago, Grindavik was evacuated after magma-induced seismic activity tore vast chasms through the streets of the town.
While hundreds of earthquakes are still hitting the surrounding area daily, “seismic activity continues to decrease”, said the Icelandic Met Office, adding: “The likelihood of an imminent volcanic eruption diminishes with time.”
However, one civil protection official told theThe Independent “It is still dangerous here … I have never seen anything like it before. Usually we will have a few minutes warning to get out, but with the weather like it is today, we have even less.”
‘Majority of the dike at Svarsengi has hardened’
The chances of a volcanic eruption is decreasing as 90 per cent of the dike has solidified, according to the professor of geophysics at the University of iceland.
Speaking to media outlet mbl.is, Magnús Tumi Guðmundsson added: “This doesn’t preclude that there’s still something left and that there’s still an open way the magma could go upwards, if more magma accumulates.
“But the likelihood of an eruption has become considerably lower than it was, among other things, because of this.”
Alex Ross27 November 2023 09:45
Locations of earthquakes
Map showing the “swarm” of earthquakes around the dike intrusion near the town of Grindavik, in the south west of the country.
(Icelandic Met Office)
Alex Ross27 November 2023 09:00
Biggest earthquake in 48 hours recorded
More on that earthquake recorded three miles from Grindavik this morning.
It was part of a swarm of quakes around the dike intrusuion north of the town which lasted for just over an hour, the Icelandic Met Office has said.
It added: “From midnight around 300 earthquakes were detected, the largest 3.0M by Sundhnjúkur.”
In total, there were around 700 earthquakes detected near the intrusion on Sunday.
Despite that number, the Met Office does say that the seismic activity is continuing to decrease. But there’s still concern on the island, as our reporter Barney Davis discovered on a visit.
Alex Ross27 November 2023 07:53
Every resident of an Icelandic town was evacuated due to a volcano. Daring rescuers went back to save the pets
Every resident of an Icelandic town was evacuated due to a volcano. Daring rescuers went back to save the pets
Cats, dogs, hamsters and even hens were at the centre of rescue efforts, reports Barney Davis from Iceland
Matt Mathers27 November 2023 07:00
Inside the abandoned Iceland town left in limbo by a volcano
But the volunteer rescue forces posted on guard duty in battering 32mph winds have to follow the strict instructions of Iceland’s tourist minister. There is a lot of high-speed arguing in Icelandic, and eventually we pass through.
Matt Mathers27 November 2023 06:00
Is it safe to travel to Iceland? Your rights if you have a holiday booked
The town of Grindavík, just 10 miles south of Keflavik International Airport, has been evacuated as a precaution.
I am in Iceland. Will I be able to leave? Simon Calder reports:
Matt Mathers27 November 2023 05:00
Watch: Smoke billows from Grindavik crater as rescue underway for fear of volcano eruption
Matt Mathers27 November 2023 02:30
Watch: Seismologist spots earthquake during equipment explanation
Matt Mathers27 November 2023 01:30
Watch: Roads with cracks across Grindavik as volcano threatens to erupt
Matt Mathers27 November 2023 00:30
‘It was like a warning from God’
Earthquakes shook a church bell in Grindavik like a “warning from God”, a resident has said.
“The earthquakes went on for hours getting worse and worse, the church bells were ringing so loudly it was like a warning from God,” Erling Snær told The Independent.
“We’ve had a lot of news in this town but I hope this time people are looking into it, and will make changes because it is so hard to leave your home.
“It’s hard to think about tourists coming to look at the crack today. But for now I don’t think they will. It’s all so soon. I still believe that something will erupt.”
Erling Snær has lived in Grindavik his whole life but doesn’t know if he will return
(Barney Davis)
Matt Mathers26 November 2023 23:30
