Huge cracks appear on roads in Icelandic town at risk of volcanic eruption
A volcanic eruption could destroy the Icelandic town of Grindavik or lead to extensive ash clouds, experts have warned.
The country has been shaken by more than 800 small earthquakes, prompting fears that the tremors could disrupt the Fagradalsfjall volcano on the Reykjanes peninsula in the southwest of the country. Scientists have said an eruption at some point is ‘likely’.
It comes as a Caterpillar D11 – said to be Iceland’s biggest bulldozer – has been dispatched to help build defences. The huge piece of equipment is constructing trenches to reduce the damage caused by any eventual disaster.
Almost 4,000 people were evacuated from Grindavik over the weekend as authorities feared that molten rock would rise to the surface of the earth and potentially hit the coastal town and a geothermal power station.
Ragga Agustsdottir, who lives close to Grindavik, said residents were fearful of what could happen if an eruption struck.
Scientists have warned Iceland’s south-western peninsula could face “decades” of volcanic instability following eruptions along the peninsula.
No Iceland earthquakes above magnitude 3 recorded in past two days
While seismic activity continues in the affected region of Iceland, all the earthquakes that have hit the Reykjanes peninsula in the past two days were below magnitude 3 on the richter scale, according to state broadcaster RUV.
“Due to the release of tension, it is likely that the magma will have an easy way to the surface, and therefore it cannot be assumed that eruption turbulence will be visible on the meters before the eruption begins,” the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) said.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar17 November 2023 06:30
Iceland earthquakes: Are flights still running amid fears of volcano eruption?
Despite fears of an impending volcanic eruption, flights from the UK to Keflavik international airport 10 miles north of the eruption site are going ahead as usual.
On Sunday 12 November, all scheduled flights from Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted and Manchester landed without incident.
Tom Watling17 November 2023 06:00
Iceland’s famous Blue Lagoon spa temporarily shuts down
Iceland’s famous Blue Lagoon spa has temporarily shut down, one week after a series of earthquakes led guests to vacate the hotel.
The Blue Lagoon, a geothermal spa southwest of Reykjavík, will be closed until 30 November amid fears of an imminent volcanic eruption.
Thousands of alarming earthquakes since late October prompted 40 guests at the spa to reportedly leave the resort’s premises earlier this month.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar17 November 2023 05:30
‘It’s like a dystopian movie’: Iceland residents describe ‘apocalyptic’ scenes as they flee volcano threat
Residents from a small Icelandic town under threat from volcanic eruption have described ‘apocalyptic’ existence as they fear for their future.
Last Friday, thousands of Grindavik residents were ordered to leave as the town was rocked by hundreds of earthquakes. The small fishing town is 34 miles from Reykjavík and is home to the famous tourist attraction the Blue Lagoon.
Tom Watling17 November 2023 05:00
Grindavik could be obliterated if volcanic eruption strikes
A volcanic eruption could destroy the Icelandic town of Grindavik or lead to extensive ash clouds, experts have warned.
The country has been shaken by more than 2,000 small earthquakes in the past few days, prompting fears that the tremors could disrupt the Fagradalsfjall volcano on the Reykjanes peninsula in the southwest of the country.
Thousands have been told to evacuate Grindavik as a precautionary measure, while a magma tunnel stretches below the surface. If an eruption occurs in or close to the town, the consequences will be devastating, volcanologist Armann Hoskuldsson warned.
He told state broadcaster RUV: “This is very bad news. One of the most serious scenarios is an eruption in the town itself, similar to that in Vestmannaeyjar 50 years ago. This would be much worse.”
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar17 November 2023 04:30
Biggest volcanic eruptions in the last decade as Iceland town faces devastation
Iceland is highly susceptible to natural disasters because it lies on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge – a divergent plate boundary where the North American Plate and the Eurasian Plate are moving away from each other, leading to volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.
Three eruptions have taken place on the peninsula of Reykjanes near the Fagradalsfjall volcano in the last three years: in March 2021, August 2022 and July 2023.
However, previous eruptions did not cause damage, having occurred in remote valleys.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain has more.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar17 November 2023 04:00
Massive cracks appear in Grindavik
The land has reportedly sunk by five feet in the west of Grindavik, and risen by up to 3 feet to the east.
A police officer stands by the crack in a road in the fishing town of Grindavik
(REUTERS)
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar17 November 2023 03:30
Couple cling to each other during Iceland earthquake
Ms McLean, 34, captured the moment the furniture and light fixtures shook violently in Mr Gunnarsson’s home when the volcano erupted.
Police evacuated Grindavik after seismic activity in the area moved south towards the town, with a corridor of magma, or semi-molten rock, now thought to be extending under the community, Iceland’s Meteorological Office said.
Couple cling to each other during Iceland earthquake
A couple cling to one another as their house shakes violently in an earthquake during a volcanic eruption in Iceland. Caitlin McLean, from Scotland, was visiting her boyfriend, Gisli Gunnarsson, 29, in Grindavik when they were forced to flee his home at midnight on Friday (10 November) as his house shook and locals frantically evacuated the area. Ms McLean, 34, captured the moment the furniture and light fixtures shook violently in Mr Gunnarsson’s home when the volcano erupted. Police evacuated Grindavik after seismic activity in the area moved south towards the town, with a corridor of magma, or semi-molten rock, now thought to be extending under the community, Iceland’s Meteorological Office said.
Tom Watling17 November 2023 03:00
Iceland residents describe ‘apocalyptic’ scenes as they flee volcano threat
Residents from a small Icelandic town under threat from volcanic eruption have described ‘apocalyptic’ existence as they fear for their future.
Last Friday, thousands of Grindavik residents were ordered to leave as the town was rocked by hundreds of earthquakes. The small fishing town is 34 miles from Reykjavík and is home to the famous tourist attraction the Blue Lagoon.
Many have been unable to return to the ‘danger zone’ to collect their belongings, as earthquakes continue to strike the town.
Grindavik resident Andrea Ævarsdóttir, 46, told The Independent: “Everything just seems so unreal, I feel like I’m in a dystopian movie. I’m just waiting to wake up from this nightmare.”
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar17 November 2023 02:55
Iceland earthquakes: Huge cracks appear on roads in volcano-threatened town
Around 900 earthquakes hit the south of the country on Monday 13 November, with tens of thousands of tremors reported in the region of Reykjanes in recent weeks.
“All roads to Grindavik are closed and traffic on them is forbidden,” the Road Administration of Iceland wrote on Facebook, sharing footage of the damage.
Huge cracks appear on roads in Iceland’s volcano-threatened town
Roads have begun to crack and buildings buckle under the pressure of underground magma as Iceland prepares for a possible volcanic eruption. Around 900 earthquakes hit the south of the country on Monday 13 November, with tens of thousands of tremors reported in the region of Reykjanes in recent weeks. In the coastal town of Grindavik, where thousands of people have been evacuated, road surfaces have cracked and crumbled away. “All roads to Grindavik are closed and traffic on them is forbidden,” the Road Administration of Iceland wrote on Facebook, sharing footage of the damage.
Tom Watling17 November 2023 02:00
Emily Foster is a globe-trotting journalist based in the UK. Her articles offer readers a global perspective on international events, exploring complex geopolitical issues and providing a nuanced view of the world’s most pressing challenges.
