Iceland has declared a state of emergency after a series of powerful earthquakes rocked the country's southwestern Reykjanes peninsula, signaling the increased likelihood of a volcanic eruption in the region. Because of the strong earthquake activity at Sundhnjukagigar, north of Grindavik, the head of national police has declared a state of emergency for civil defense. According to the Icelandic Met Office (IMO), an eruption might occur "in several days". The IMO reports that 24,000 earthquakes have been recorded on the peninsula since late October, with "a dense swarm" of almost 800 quakes recorded on Friday between midnight and two pm GMT.
The most likely scenario is that magma will not rise to the surface in hours, but rather several days. Lava would flow to the west and southeast but not towards Grindavik if a fissure appeared where seismic activity is largest right now. About 4,000 people live in the village of Grindavik, which is 1.86 miles (3 km) southwest of the region where the earthquake swarm from Friday was detected. In the event of an eruption, evacuation procedures are in place.
Not far from Grindavik, the Blue Lagoon—known for its geothermal spas and opulent hotels—closed as a precaution following another seismic tremor. The Svartsengi geothermal plant, which provides the majority of the water and electricity to 30,000 people living on the Reykjanes peninsula, is also close by. In the event of an eruption, it has backup plans in place to safeguard the plant and its employees.
Since the end of October, thousands of tremors have been recorded in Iceland, which has the highest number of active volcanic systems in all of Europe—33. On the Reykjanes peninsula, there have been three eruptions since 2021: in March 2021, August 2022, and July 2023. All three of those places were remote from towns and other centers of population. More than two thousand minor earthquakes have shook Iceland over the last few days, and residents of Grindavik, which is home to about 4,000 people, have been ordered to evacuate.
In conclusion, the recent earthquake swarm in Iceland's southwestern Reykjanes peninsula has raised concerns of a possible volcanic eruption in the region. Icelandic authorities have declared a state of emergency and are closely monitoring the situation. The Blue Lagoon and Svartsengi geothermal plant have contingency plans in place to protect their facilities and workers. Iceland has a history of volcanic activity, and the country's residents are well-prepared to handle such situations.
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