Iceland Volcanic Eruption: State of Emergency Declared

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.

Why do earthquakes happen in Nepal so often?

Nepal is a country that lies on the boundary of two massive tectonic plates: the Indian and the Eurasian plates. These plates are constantly moving and colliding with each other, creating immense pressure and stress along the fault line. When this pressure is released, it causes earthquakes.