Iceland hit by thousands of small earthquakes in volcano warning
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In July, a volcano erupted in an uninhabited part of the Reykjanes peninsula after intense earthquake activity.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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COPENHAGEN - A seismic swarm has hit the Reykjanes peninsula in south-west Iceland with more than 5,500 small earthquakes in the last three days, raising the prospect of a volcanic eruption, the country’s meteorological office said on Friday.
Located between the Eurasian and the North American tectonic plates, among the largest on the planet, Iceland is a seismic and volcanic hot spot as the two plates move in opposite directions.
While quakes are a daily occurrence in Iceland, the latest swarm has been more extensive than usual. “These earthquakes are a warning sign... we know we’re entering a build-up phase to the next (volcanic) eruption,” said Mr Matthew Roberts, service and research division head at the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO).
The quakes originated at a depth of up to 5km and were caused by a long-term accumulation of magma that has been building pressure and is now slowly drifting towards the surface of the earth, he added.
Earlier in 2023, a volcano erupted in an uninhabited part of the Reykjanes peninsula
A fourth eruption could now be developing, the IMO said, although predicting the timing of volcanic outbreaks is difficult.
“From my perspective as a scientist and someone who’s been following this activity very closely, I would say that an eruption within the next 12 months is likely,” said Mr Roberts.
The strongest of the earthquakes was measured at a magnitude of 4.5, and around 15 tremors were at 3.0 or stronger, the IMO said.
Earthquakes with a magnitude above 2.5 can be felt by humans, according to the Michigan Technological University.
Grindavik, a fishing town on the peninsula with around 2,000 inhabitants, is the town closest to the seismic activity. REUTERS
