- Iceland: Volcanic eruption imminent.
- Grindavik town evacuated.
- Ongoing seismic activity.
Scientists predict that despite diminished seismic activity in southwest Iceland, a volcanic eruption is still imminent.
The Reykjanes Peninsula, which has been shaken by over 500 earthquakes since midnight, faces an ongoing threat, although their intensity has reduced in the past two days.
However, experts emphasise that a 15-kilometer-long (9-mile-long) magma river beneath the promontory remains active and poses a threat to the town of Grindavik, which has been evacuated.
Evacuation and Environmental Impact
It has generated the majority of earthquakes, and hundreds of individuals have fled.
Due to the shifting and settling of the terrain brought about by the minor tremors, cracks have appeared on town roads.
Officials announced on Monday afternoon that Grindavik would continue to be evacuated overnight due to “minute-by-minute” situational monitoring.
Permission has been granted to some residents to assemble their belongings under supervision.
Locals express heightened distress due to the fact that eruptions typically occur in sparsely populated regions.
It is reported that the evacuation from Grindavik is the first of its kind in fifty years.
Recent updates, according to volcanologists, may suggest a lesser magnitude of the impending eruption than was previously believed. Despite this, the potential for volcanic flows could still pose a significant threat to Grindavik.
The authorities underscore the extreme unpredictability of the situation.
Despite being located only 15 kilometres south of Keflavik International Airport, flights continue to arrive and depart without interruption.
Memories and Concerns of Past Eruptions
Travellers are concerned that the April 2010 disruptions caused by the eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull could occur again.
More than 50,000 flights were cancelled throughout the European aviation industry for an entire week due to the ash cloud that resulted.
However, no comparable air pollution has transpired thus far.
A man who was compelled to leave Grindavik has expressed concern that he may never return to his hometown.
Gisli Gunnarsson, a 29-year-old composer who was born and reared in the municipality, described the situation to the PA news agency as “grim.”
His Scottish girlfriend Caitlin McLean, who was visiting him at the time, captured on Friday the moment when Mr. Gunnarsson’s residence was filled with violently trembling furniture and light fixtures.
“At approximately 4:00 on Friday, [the earthquakes] commenced an uninterrupted sequence. “Horrendous, constant magnitude tremors,” Mr. Gunnarsson explained.
“Primary and foremost, it is difficult to consider the possibility that you will never again visit your hometown.
We left Grinnavik within hours, which was difficult because we didn’t realise it may be our last trip there.
In recent weeks, thousands of tremors have been detected in the vicinity of the adjacent Fagradalsfjall volcano.
They have focused on the Reykjanes Peninsula, which was 800 years volcanically silent until 2021.
The Geological and Meteorological Perspective
A state of emergency has been declared in Iceland, and the Icelandic Meteorological Office has issued a warning that an eruption is highly probable.
Professor of volcanology at the University of Iceland, Thor Thordason, reported that the depth of the magma had decreased to less than 800 metres and that an eruption was imminent.
He further stated that regrettably, the probable eruption side seems to be situated within the municipality of Grindavik.
