The series of earthquakes in Iceland continues. Between midnight and 6am (local time, 7am CET) on Sunday, authorities recorded around 880 earthquakes, broadcaster RUV reported. However, all tremors remained below magnitude 3.0. It was therefore much quieter than the previous two nights. However, a volcanic eruption could still occur on the Reykjanes Peninsula, southwest of the capital Reykjavik.
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City of Grindavík evacuated
However, the night’s data showed no changes in the magma chambers and did not indicate that activity was approaching the surface. After a swarm of earthquakes that lasted several days – a specific form of a series of earthquakes – authorities evacuated the town of Grindavík with about 3,700 residents and also closed the nearby Blue Lagoon, the island’s best-known tourist attraction in the North Atlantic. Photos of the area show deep cracks in the streets and meter-wide holes in the ground. Significant damage to homes is expected. The Icelandic government wanted to discuss the situation at noon.
Earth fissures in Grindavik, Iceland
© Image: via Portal/RUV/RAGNAR VISAGE
The new swarm of earthquakes started about two and a half weeks ago. Since then, there have been thousands of earthquakes. Volcanic eruptions have already occurred on the Reykjanes Peninsula in 2021, 2022 and this summer. Each of these was heralded by a longer series of earthquakes. There was no danger to populated areas in all three eruptions.
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