Iceland Evacuates Town As Volcano Threatens To Erupt

Jorge M. November 12, 2023

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LONDON (AP) — Residents of a fishing city in southwestern Iceland left their houses Saturday after growing concern about a potential volcanic eruption precipitated civil protection authorities to declare a state of emergency within the area.

Police determined to evacuate Grindavik after recent seismic activity in the area moved south towards the city and monitoring indicated {that a} hall of magma, or semi-molten rock, now extends underneath the neighborhood, Iceland’s Meteorological Office stated. The city of 3,400 is on the Reykjanes Peninsula, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) southwest of the capital, Reykjavik.

View of Grindavik, a small fishing village on the Reykjanes peninsula within the southwest of the nation.

Raul Moreno/SOPA Images/LightRocket by way of Getty Images

“At this stage, it is not possible to determine exactly whether and where magma might reach the surface,” the Meteorological Office stated.

Authorities additionally raised their aviation alert to orange, indicating an elevated threat of a volcanic eruption. Volcanic eruptions pose a critical hazard to aviation as a result of they’ll spew extremely abrasive ash high into the ambiance, the place it might trigger jet engines to fail, injury flight management methods and cut back visibility.

A significant eruption in Iceland in 2010 precipitated widespread disruption to air journey between Europe and North America, costing airways an estimated $3 billion as they canceled greater than 100,000 flights.

GRINDAVIK, ICELAND - 2023/11/09: Next to the Blue Lagoon is the Grindavik geothermal power station. Iceland is preparing for another volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula. After more than 1400 earthquakes during the last 48 hours in the Grindavik area, experts warn of a very likely volcanic eruption in the coming days. In 2021, 2022, and 2023, successive volcanic eruptions occurred near the Grindavik area, populated with some 3200 people. For the time being, the well-known Blue Lagoon thermal spa has closed its doors due to the great risk that a volcanic fissure could open up in the same area. (Photo by Raul Moreno/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) — GRINDAVIK, ICELAND – 2023/11/09: Next to the Blue Lagoon is the Grindavik geothermal energy station. Iceland is making ready for one more volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula. After greater than 1400 earthquakes over the last 48 hours within the Grindavik space, consultants warn of a really probably volcanic eruption within the coming days. In 2021, 2022, and 2023, successive volcanic eruptions occurred close to the Grindavik space, populated with some 3200 individuals. For the time being, the well-known Blue Lagoon thermal spa has closed its doorways because of the nice threat {that a} volcanic fissure might open up in the identical space. (Photo by Raul Moreno/SOPA Images/LightRocket by way of Getty Images)

The evacuation comes after the area was shaken by tons of of small earthquakes day-after-day for greater than two weeks as scientists monitor a buildup of magma some 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) underground.

Concern a few potential eruption elevated within the early hours of Thursday when a magnitude 4.8 earthquake hit the realm, forcing the internationally identified Blue Lagoon geothermal resort to shut quickly.

In this Feb. 21, 2006 file photo Tourists relax in the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, Iceland on Feb. 21,2006. The geothermal spa Blue Lagoon has temporarily closed after a series of earthquakes have put Iceland's southwestern corner on volcanic alert, reaching a state of panic on Thursday when a magnitude 5.0 earthquake occurred just after midnight. — In this Feb. 21, 2006 file photograph Tourists chill out within the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, Iceland on Feb. 21,2006. The geothermal spa Blue Lagoon has quickly closed after a collection of earthquakes have put Iceland’s southwestern nook on volcanic alert, reaching a state of panic on Thursday when a magnitude 5.0 earthquake occurred simply after midnight.

The seismic exercise started in an space north of Grindavik the place there’s a community of 2,000-year-old craters, geology professor Pall Einarrson, advised Iceland’s RUV. The magma hall is about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) lengthy and spreading, he stated.

“The biggest earthquakes originated there, under this old series of craters, but since then it (the magma corridor) has been getting longer, went under the urban area in Grindavík and is heading even further and towards the sea,” he stated.

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