Iceland on Saturday declared an emergency and issued evacuation orders for a popular tourist town after 1,400 earthquakes were recorded in a 24-hour period, raising fears of an imminent volcanic eruption.
Authorities urged Grindavík residents to flee the coastal city following a surge of seismic activity about 3 miles below the surface of the Reykjanes Peninsula.
“There are indications that a considerable amount of magma is moving in an area” near the Fagradalsfjall volcano, about 40 kilometers southwest of Reykjavik, the country’s capital, the Icelandic Meteorological Office said in a 11:30 p.m. update. hours.
“The amount of magma involved is significantly greater than that observed in the larger magma intrusions associated with the eruptions at Fagradalsfjall.”
The tremors are “very similar” to seismic activity that was measured about a month before the volcano erupted in 2021, and which lasted six months.
A helicopter flies near a volcanic eruption that began in Fagradalsfjall, near the capital Reykjavik, on March 20, 2021, in Fagradalsfjall, Iceland. fake images
Although highly recommended, civil protection evacuation is not mandatory.
Seismic activity began on October 25, shaking the peninsula with hundreds of small earthquakes each day. Land in the region has risen 9 centimeters since October 27, according to the IMO.
In a 24-hour span from Wednesday to Thursday, 1,400 earthquakes shook the peninsula, including two with a magnitude greater than 5.0 and at least seven measuring 4.5 on the Richter scale.
A person watches the scene of the new volcano eruption taking place in the Meradalir Valley near Mount Fagradalsfjall, Iceland, on August 4, 2022.AFP via Getty Images
Scientists are closely monitoring the situation for any signs that seismic activity is approaching the surface, which could be an indication that magma is breaking through the Earth’s crust, the Met Office said.
Authorities believe the eruption could occur less than 2 miles from the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, one of Iceland’s biggest tourist attractions, prompting the business to temporarily close as a precaution.
The lava could threaten the popular destination, as well as the town of Grindavík and the thousands of homes heated by the lagoon’s geothermal energy.
“There are currently no signs that seismic activity is becoming shallower,” the Met said on its website. “However, the situation could change rapidly and it is not possible to exclude a lava eruption scenario in the area northwest of Thorbjorn.”
With publication wires
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Source: vtt.edu.vn