Huge cracks appear on roads in Icelandic town at risk of volcanic eruption
Authorities fear the Iceland volcano could erupt with just 30 minutes notice as the country’s Meteorological Office (IMO) warned magma may have reached very high up in the Earth’s crust.
Kristín Jónsdóttir, head of department at the Icelandic Meteorological Office, said people will “just have to wait in suspense for the next few days” to see how events play out.
She said the decreasing earthquake activity over the last 24 hours could be a sign that magma has reached very close to the earth’s surface, adding that the scenario is not unlike what was seen prior to a previous eruption in 2021.
Authorities fear they could get as little as “30 minutes notice” before the anticipated volcanic eruption. “All the big signs are already there, so we are looking for the small signs, the signs that say that even though we are monitoring very closely,” Vídir Reynisson, chief of civil protection added.
The Met Office said magmatic gas has been detected at a borehole in Svartsengi, signalling an imminent eruption of the Fagradalsfjall volcano over the coming days, with the town of Grindavik most at risk.
Some hope for Grindavík as rescue workers share their findings
A rescue worker in Grindavik says the damage to the town is less severe than people feared, report RUV.
Otti Rafn Sigmarsson is a rescue worker and part of the Þörbjörn team who have carried out repair works in the town which has been hit by hundreds of earthquakes and evacuated due to the imminent volcanic threats, say the state broadcaster.
Many Grindavikians say the streets are badly damaged as a huge crack formed in the town and quakes rocked the buildings.
However, Mr Sigmarsson says the damage is ‘less than people think’.
Another member of the team, Otti Rafn, told the news outlet that despite many homes near the crack are badly damaged, the situation elsewhere is much better.
On Sunday, 180 homes lost heat but repair works have helped fix supply problems to over half of those problems, and most of the town still has electricity, saysRUV.
Many facilities such as schools and sports halls remain standing and undamaged signalling hope to the displaced people who long to return home.
This image taken with a drone shows cracks next to a children playground in the town of Grindavik, Iceland
(AP)
Lydia Patrick21 November 2023 12:50
ICYMI – Where do scientists predict the volcano will erupt?
Experts have revealed the likely eruption site of a volcano in Iceland, as authorities warn evacuees they may not return home for months.
“Hagafell is thought to be a prime location for an eruption,” the forecaster said.
Lydia Patrick21 November 2023 12:17
When will the Iceland volcano erupt and what happens when it does?
As an imminent eruption looms thousands of Iceland residents await their fate as their town could be wiped out within days.
Some 3,400 residents from the town of Grindavik which lies on the path of the expected fissure vent eruption were forced to evacuate, they described the ‘apocalyptic’ scenes of their much-loved home town as they briefly returned to collect their belongings.
The whole population waits in limbo as they fear the fate of their close-knit community, many have already lost their homes whilst others do not know if their residencies still stand as earthquakes have continued to strike.
Lydia Patrick21 November 2023 11:40
New hazard map issued
The existing hazard map has been published to show where the biggest seismic risks are for the area around Grindavík and Svartsengi
The new map covers a wider hazard area than the previous map.
The Iceland Monitor explains the three different zones.
Orange: Danger zone A: Danger due to seismic activity.
Red: Danger zone B: Danger due to possible eruption, including earth cracking open suddenly, eruption with little forewarning, lava flow and dangerous gas pollution
Purple: Danger zone C: Increased danger of eruption like in zone B, and even more danger of the earth opening suddenly and dangerous gas pollution.
In this zone escape routes need to be clear, gas monitors and gas masks are needed if entering the area.
The purple area is the highest danger zone , encompassing Hagafell, north east of the town of Grindavik
(Icelandic Met Office)
Lydia Patrick21 November 2023 11:10
Mapped –
Locations of earthquakes over the past 48 hours
(The Icelandic Met Office )
Lydia Patrick21 November 2023 10:40
Previous eruptions in Reykjanes
A volcanic system on the Reykjanes Peninsula has erupted three times since 2021, after being dormant for 800 years. Previous eruptions occurred in remote valleys without causing damage.
The first eruption in Mt. Fagradalsfjall started on March 19th, 2021 at 8:45 PM after increased seismic activity dating back to January 2020, say visit Reykjanes.
.The eruption was steady in the valley of Geldingadalir for about six months and attracted tourists to come and visit the spectacle and the eruption was declared as over in December 2021.
An eruption started again in Mt. Fagradalsfjall, in the valley of Meradalir in August 2022 however the fissures opened only 1 km north of the previous eruption site and it lasted three weeks.
The third eruption in three years started on the 10 July 2023 and is still ongoing, report visit Reykjanes
Lava spurts and flows after the eruption of a volcano in the Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland, July 12, 2023
(via REUTERS)
Lydia Patrick21 November 2023 09:50
Over 1000 earthquakes since yesterday
Over 1000 earthquakes have struck in the region of the magma intrusion since yesterday, reported the Icelandic Met Office.
The largest quake was magnitude 2.7 near to Hagafell, said the IMO.
In recent days, between 1,500 and 1,800 daily earthquakes have been measured in the region, with the largest event registering magnitude 3.0 last Friday
This image taken with a drone shows cracks at an intersection in the town of Grindavik, Iceland
(AP)
Lydia Patrick21 November 2023 09:20
Explained – Cause of earthquakes and volcanos in Iceland
Iceland lies on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates move apart at about 2cm a year, Tamsin Mathers a Oxford University professor in Earth sciences told the Independent.
She wrote in the Conversation: “In the Earth’s mantle below ground, where rocks behave like very stiff toffee, the plates can extend continuously.
“But near the surface, the rocks of Earth’s crust are cold and brittle, and they can only stretch by breaking.
“Like pulling the ends of a chocolate bar with a soft interior but a hard shell, the build-up of strain as the plates pull apart is released in bursts as the coating breaks.”
As the plates move apart, both sides move upwards leading to ground defamation (sinking) in some places and rising in other places.
Aerial view taken on February 28, 2021 shows the “Bridge between Continents”, a footbridge linking the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates
(AFP via Getty Images)
Lydia Patrick21 November 2023 08:50
Icelandic Met Office warns of ‘significant crustal uplift’
The Icelandic Met Office has warned of “significant crustal uplift” in the area of Svartseng.
The review of the images by experts comes as Iceland has been recording between 1,500 and 1,800 daily earthquakes in recent days.
Tara Cobham21 November 2023 08:06
When will Iceland volcano erupt and what happens when it does?
As an imminent eruption looms thousands of Iceland residents await their fate as their town could be wiped out within days.
Some 3,400 residents from the town of Grindavik which lies on the path of the expected fissure vent eruption were forced to evacuate, they described the ‘apocalyptic’ scenes of their much-loved home town as they briefly returned to collect their belongings.
Tara Cobham21 November 2023 07:44