Updated 00.29 | Published 2023-11-11 23.03
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At any moment, the volcanic eruption can erupt in Iceland.
Grindavík has been evacuated after a magma tunnel formed under the town.
– It is very dramatic, says Norwegian geologist Børge Johannes Wigum VG.
Icelandic authorities are warning that a volcanic eruption could occur at any time in the coming days.
A crisis meeting has been held after a 15 kilometer long and 800 meter deep magma tunnel formed under the fishing town of Grindavík.
– The magma tunnel is now one and a half kilometers below the city. In the worst case, a crack could open in the middle of the city, says Børge Johannes Wigum to VG.
The 2,800 residents who live there were evacuated during the night.
At the same time, they have been forced to leave the pets behind. The plan was to pick them up on Sunday, but that will not work, according to the authorities.
According to a list compiled, there are 58 cats, 2 rabbits, 2 hamsters, 49 horses, 50 chickens, 13 parrots, 130 pigeons, 204 sheep and 15,000 chickens.
50 years ago
During Friday, Iceland was hit by 800 earthquakes in 14 hours. Norwegian Stephen Meinich-Bache, who is on the island with his children, says they are worried about the development.
– The curtains flutter and the lights swing. It is very special, he tells VG.
Even if Grindvik survives a volcanic eruption, the violent tremors could lead to consequences, according to geologist Børge Johannes Wigum.
– There is a thermal power plant located right next to the Blue Lagoon. If it is damaged, it will affect the district heating in Njærdvik and Keflavík. Something like that will take months to repair, while 30,000 people don’t get district heating or hot water.
It is 50 years since a populated part of Iceland was last affected by a volcanic eruption. This summer, Fagradalsfjäll, 30 kilometers from Reykjavik, was hit by an eruption and thousands of earthquakes.
The most notable eruption in Iceland occurred at the volcano Eyjafjallajökull in 2010, where the ash spread over Europe and stopped air traffic for several weeks.