Iceland volcano – live: Experts reveal likely eruption site as thousands of new earthquakes recorded

The most likely site for volcanic eruption in Iceland is near the mountainous region of Hagafell, according to the Icelandic meteorological office.

Latest models based on GPS data and satellite imagery suggest the largest magma intrusion movements are occurring north of Grindavík, near Hagafell, the Met Office said.

“If magma manages to reach the surface, Hagafell is thought to be a prime location for an eruption,” it said, adding that seismicity related to the magma intrusion remains constant.

About 2,000 mini quakes have been recorded in the last 24 hours the largest of which occurred near Hagefell and had a magnitude of 3.0.

Most of the earthquake activity is still being recorded in an area north of Hagafel, the Met Office noted.

Over 2,000 quakes have been recorded in Iceland with continued land deformation on Friday, according to the country’s meteorological office.

The most likely scenario, according to the Iceland Met Office volcanism head Kristín Jónsdóttir, is eruption beginning in the “next few days.”

Experts say the eruption site is likely NE of Grindavík where ground deformation is happening more acutely, but it is still not entirely sure when and where it may happen, according to the Met Office.

Some residents of the evacuated town of Grindavik have been allowed to return home to collect valuables and tend to pets today.

Locals have been allowed to enter the town in small numbers for a short amount of time every day since Monday, after the town was first evacuated on Saturday.

Throughout the week, queues of cars were pictured on the road leading to the town, which has been ‘split in two’ by thousands of earthquakes in recent weeks.

Iceland’s Civil Defence will hold an information session at 1pm today.

The meeting will be held at a rescue centre near the evacuated area and will give local residents the opportunity to ask questions.

Attendees will include the prime minister of Iceland and Icelandic Met Office officials.

No eruption has taken place as of Saturday morning, but as earthquakes continue the chance of one is still likely.

Over 340 earthquakes have been recorded in the area since midnight, according to a specialist in the Icelandic Meteorological Office.

Seismic activity decreased around 9pm last night but has since returned to the same level it had been.

The staff of telecom companies are working together with the Iceland national “emergency line” to keep communications systems working in order, according to local news.

They are also reportedly coordinating to upgrade the systems to ensure they can withstand the stress of increased seismic activity in the region.

“All the telecommunications companies are cooperating. There is extremely good cooperation going on in all operations and it has been for the past week,” telecom company Mila’s technical director Daði Sigurðarson said.

Volunteers have rescued hundreds of animals from Grindavik over the week as Iceland’s meteorological department officials warn that volcanic eruption is imminent in the “coming days.”

The organisation noted that over the last week, it has rescued a number of animals from the quake-rattled town, including cats, hamsters, pigeons, sheep, frogs, hamsters, and shrimp.

“The owners and people in Grindavík have been very involved in getting the animals out with excellent results,” Dýrfinna og Hundasveitin, an association that helps lost animals, posted on X.

“The actions of the last few days have been characterized by a great struggle for the animals who do not have a voice and their owners,” it said.

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