An earthquake disrupts an interview with the mayor of Grindavik.
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Experts are warning that a volcano in Iceland could erupt within a matter of hours or days, leading to the evacuation of 3,000 residents from the town of Grindavik in the southwest.
Following a total of 1,485 seismic activities within the past two days, citizens of Iceland are preparing for the potential eruption of Fagradalsfjall volcano.
The Icelandic Meteorological Office reported a high likelihood of an eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula due to the large underground magma intrusion and its rapid movement.
According to Professor Thorvaldur Thordarson from the University of Iceland, an eruption could occur within hours or a few days, as the likelihood of it happening has greatly risen. He shared this information with state broadcaster RUV.
The United Kingdom has heightened its guidance for British travelers, stating that there is a growing chance of a volcanic eruption happening.
But they suggest: “Keflavik International Airport is functioning as usual. Although there is currently no volcanic activity, there is a growing chance that one may happen. It is important to stay informed through local news and follow the guidance of authorities regarding travel to the region.”
What are your entitlements if you are vacationing in Iceland or considering a trip there during the recent earthquake activity?
The city of Grindavík, located only 10 miles south of Keflavik International Airport, has been cleared as a safety measure.
The eruption may occur in a matter of hours or days.
The Icelandic government has successfully evacuated 3,000 people from a town in the southwest part of the country due to potential volcanic activity. This decision was made after a string of earthquakes and indications of magma moving beneath the surface.
The Icelandic Meteorological Office stated that there is a significant possibility of volcanic activity on the Reykjanes peninsula due to the size and speed of an underground magma intrusion.
“According to Thorvaldur Thordarson, a volcanology professor at the University of Iceland, an eruption could occur within hours or a few days due to a significant increase in the likelihood.”
The Civil Protection Agency of Iceland has instructed for a total evacuation of Grindavik, a neighboring fishing town. However, it should be noted that this is not considered an emergency evacuation.
Iceland’s earthquake locations have been mapped and a warning for a potential volcano eruption has been issued.
Iceland is currently experiencing a series of earthquakes, with a total of 1,485 recorded in the past 48 hours. This has raised concerns about a possible volcanic eruption.
The Reykjanes peninsula in the southwest of the country has experienced the majority of tremors, with small earthquakes occurring daily for over two weeks. These tremors are caused by a buildup of volcanic magma three miles beneath the surface.
The travel advice from the UK foreign office has been revised to caution about a higher possibility of a volcanic eruption.
Experts are cautioning about the increasing threat of a volcano.
Are flights operating despite concerns about a potential volcano eruption in Iceland due to recent earthquakes?
In the last 48 hours, a multitude of earthquakes have occurred in Iceland’s southwestern Reykjanes peninsula, leading to the declaration of a state of emergency.
Despite concerns about a potential volcanic activity, flights from the United Kingdom to Keflavik International Airport, which is located 10 miles north of the eruption area, are proceeding as scheduled.
At 6:32am on Saturday, the initial of 14 planned flights departed from London’s Luton Airport and arrived at Keflavik international airport, located about 10 miles north of the eruption location, at 9:33am without any issues.
The flight departing Manchester airport at 7:40am successfully landed at Keflavik International Airport at 10:30am.
The British government’s Foreign Office has increased its cautionary advice for citizens traveling abroad.
The Foreign Office recently revised their guidance for British tourists, stating that there is a growing chance of a volcanic eruption.
The Reykjanes peninsula, located southwest of Reykjavik, is currently experiencing elevated levels of earthquakes and signs of volcanic activity, according to the official warning regarding “volcanic eruption and earthquakes.”
The Icelandic government is closely observing the region, specifically the northwest area of Mt Thorbjörn near the Svartsengi power plant and the Blue Lagoon.
A Civil Protection Alert was issued on November 10th due to a significant series of earthquakes.
As a precaution, the town of Grindavík was cleared of inhabitants. Several roads have been shut down and it is recommended for visitors to avoid the region.
The Keflavik International Airport is functioning as usual. Although there is no present volcanic activity, there is a growing likelihood of a potential eruption.
It is recommended to keep an eye on local news for any updates and comply with the guidance of authorities regarding travel to the region.
The recommendation falls short of discouraging travel to Iceland. This means that airlines and vacation companies are still operating normally, without the option to cancel automatically.
The Grindavík region contains a magma tunnel.
According to the national public-service broadcasting organization in Iceland, a geophysics professor has stated that the magma tunnel beneath Grindavík has reached its maximum width.
He informed RUV that the magnitude of the eruption, if it were to occur, is unknown. The topic is highly uncertain, including the size of the eruption and its location on the surface.
In case you missed it – The popular Blue Lagoon spa in Iceland has closed temporarily due to the threat of a volcanic eruption.
The well-known Blue Lagoon spa in Iceland has closed temporarily following a series of earthquakes that caused guests to leave the hotel.
The Blue Lagoon, a spa with natural hot springs located southwest of Reykjavík, is expected to remain closed until 16 November due to a string of earthquakes that occurred after midnight on 2 November. The earthquakes were accompanied by tremors, causing 40 spa guests to leave the premises for safety reasons.
The spa released a statement on their website, stating that their main motivation for implementing these safety measures is to ensure the safety and wellness of their guests. They hope to minimize any potential interruptions to their guests’ experiences and ease the ongoing strain on their employees.
The travel guidance from the UK Foreign Office remains the same.
The UK travel industry considers Foreign Office guidance to be the determining factor in determining the safety of a destination.
If the FCDO advises against traveling to certain parts of Iceland, tourists who are already there will be relocated and there will be no more departures to those regions.
The Foreign Office’s most recent travel advisory was issued on Tuesday, November 7th. The FCDO cautioned that there has been a rise in earthquake activity and signs of volcanic activity on the Rekjanes peninsula, located southwest of Reykjavik.
The Icelandic government is closely monitoring the northwest area of Mt Thorbjörn near the Svartsengi power plant and the Blue Lagoon.
“Despite the absence of an active eruption, there is a potential for one to happen. It is advised to regularly check local news sources for any updates and to adhere to guidance from authorities regarding travel in the region.”
The route connecting Grindavik and Reykjanesbraut has been closed as a result of a significant fissure.
According to MP Gisli Olafsson’s post on social media, a significant crack has formed on the road linking Grindavik and Reykjanesbraut, resulting in its closure.
Source: independent.co.uk
