Officials in Iceland warned on Wednesday that the likelihood of a volcanic eruption remained “high” as hundreds of earthquakes continued to be recorded in recent hours.
According to the Icelandic Meteorological Office, about 800 earthquakes have been measured since midnight, most of them in the middle of the magma vein near Sundhnúk at a depth of about 3 to 5 km [1.8 to 3.1 miles].”
Sundhnúk is just over 2 miles north-northeast of Grindavík, a town in southwest Iceland that was evacuated due to volcanic activity, according to FOX Weather.
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Tourists reportedly fled Iceland’s world-famous Blue Lagoon geothermal spa last week after earthquakes shook the area and forced the spa to temporarily close the swimming spot.
TOURISTS ESCAPE FROM POPULAR SPA IN ICELAND AFTER ‘EARTHQUAKE SHOWER’ SHARES FEARS OF VOLCANIC ACTIVITY
Steam rises from a crack in a road near the town of Grindavik in Iceland on Monday, November 13, following seismic activity. (AP/Brynjar Gunnarsson)
FOX Weather reported that sulfur dioxide gas was detected in the air in Grindavík yesterday, a sign of possible impending volcanic activity.
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Videos and images have also emerged that appear to show smoke rising from cracked streets in Grindavík in recent days.
“Seismic activity has remained constant since November 11th. The focus of monitoring seismic activity remains in the area of the dike and Grindavík,” the Icelandic Meteorological Office said.
NERVOUS RESIDENTS OF GRINDAVIK are quickly returning to the danger zone amid fears of a volcanic eruption in Iceland
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A member of the emergency services checks vehicles heading towards the city of Grindavik on Monday. (AP/Brynjar Gunnarsson)
“Deformation measurements show ongoing deformation in the area. They agree with the fact that magma is still flowing into the dike. Some of the magma vein appears to be solidifying, especially at the edges, but not in the area of the magma inflow, which is probably close to “Sundhnúk,” it said.
The office concluded that the “probability of an eruption is still considered high” and “in the event of an eruption, the most likely location is at the magma dike.”
A car drives towards a crack in a street in the town of Grindavik on Monday. (AP/Brynjar Gunnarsson)
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Sky News also quoted the office as saying: “At this point it is not possible to determine exactly whether and where magma could reach the surface.”
Fox News’ Emma Colton contributed to this report.