Volcanic activity can be hard to predict. Iceland has 130 volcanoes, but out of the 130, only 32 are active, as per the country’s tourist website. Since October, the country has felt over 20,000 tremors in southwest Iceland.
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On Thursday, November 9, 2023, there was an increase in seismic activity, leading to some areas being evacuated. Iceland has had a number of volcanoes erupt in recent years, with the last being back in August of this year. The volcano in question that could erupt sometime soon is Fagradalsfjall.
Here’s everything you need to know about Iceland’s potential next volcanic eruption.
Iceland could have another volcanic eruption
As per the BBC, the Icelandic Met Office (IMO) is concerned that large amounts of magma are spreading underground around the southwestern town of Grindavík, and believe the magma could erupt.
As a result, authorities have evacuated the area as a precaution, but have specified it is not yet an emergency. The evacuation comes after the IMO explained that they have not ruled out that the ‘magma tunnel that is currently forming could reach Grindavík’.
Iceland's Civil Protection Agency has urged people to ‘remain calm because we have a good amount of time to react’. The agency said in a statement on Friday, November 10:
There is no immediate danger imminent, the evacuation is primarily preventive with the safety of all Grindavík residents as the principal aim.
Iceland is preparing for a potential volcanic eruption
Due to the surge in seismic activity, the country is preparing for a potential volcanic eruption. As mentioned above, the southwest town of Grindavík has been evacuated. Moreover, the Blue Lagoon landmark has also been closed for now.
Grindavík has also closed all roads in the town, which has around 4,000 inhabitants, in case of emergency so that the traffic can easily get in and out.
On Friday, November 10, the IMO added that ‘significant changes have occurred in the seismic activity’ and that the tremors are moving closer to Grindavík, as reported by BBC. The IMO also revealed that the magma is likely beneath the town now but it was ‘not possible to determine exactly' whether or where it could emerge.
The amount of magma involved is significantly more than what was observed in the largest magma intrusions associated with the eruptions at Fagradalsfjall.
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Sources used:
BBC: ‘Fagradalsfjall: Iceland declares emergency over volcano eruption concerns’
Visit Iceland: ‘VOLCANIC ICELAND: MOUNTAINS TO WATCH AND THE NEW LAVA AT FAGRADALSFJALL’
