Iceland, which is used to natural disasters, has prepared for a possible eruption in the coming days. The residents of Grindavik left for evacuation a week ago.
A state of emergency has been declared in Iceland in case of a possible eruption.
In the volcanically active area on the Reykjanes peninsula, grooves have formed, from which the growing pressure under the earth’s crust lifts the magma close to the earth’s surface.
A possible eruption is predicted with the help of, among other things, sulfur dioxide observations. Even tens of thousands of small earthquakes have been registered since October.
A week ago, seismic activity began to increase on the Reykjanes peninsula. Now the magma flow has expanded. The 4,000 inhabitants of the fishing village of Grindavik left their homes at the end of last week. Aerial photos of Grindavik show that, for example, the village’s main street has broken in the middle in some places and has become discolored to the point of being impassable. Investigator Ari Trausti Gudmundsson says the probability of an eruption is high.
– The eruption is not necessarily huge, but it can still bury Grindavik and also threaten the geothermal power plant in the area, says Ari, the Svartseng power plant is located six kilometers from Grindavik.
The Blue Lagoon spa, one of Iceland’s most famous attractions, is closed due to the threat of an eruption.
Volcanic Iceland is located between two continental plates that are separating from each other, the Eurasian and North American plates. Magma rises to the surface between the moving plates. In some places, the ground in Grindavik has sunk by up to a meter.
Reuters