15 November 2023 , 10:38
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A volcanic eruption in Iceland could be just hours away with thousands of earthquakes rumbling beneath the surface for days.
Around 4,000 residents have been evacuated from the southwestern town of Grindavik as authorities claim molten rock is likely to rise to the surface of the earth, with a lava river potentially hitting a geothermal power station. Another 300 earthquakes were reported overnight and experts are concerned that it is purely a matter of time before Fagradalsfjall erupts.
The area has been described it as a “ghost town” after everyone was ordered to flee. Iceland has declared a state of emergency after the quakes, just off the Reykjanes peninsula. The Icelandic Meteorological Office said an eruption at the fishing community could begin at any time with experts believing a 'corridor' around nine miles deep has developed beneath.
Cracks cut across a main road in the southwestern town of Grindavik, home to around 4,000 people (AFP via Getty Images)Iceland's Civil Protection Agency said the decision to evacuate came after they could not rule out a "magma tunnel that is currently forming could reach Grindavík". Authorities are currently racing to build defence walls around the Svartsengi geothermal power plant, located just four miles away. It produces hot and cold water and electricity for the entire country.
Residents reported hearing 'unholy sounds' from beneath the ground as they left their homes. Those allowed to return to collect belongings and pets were told to 'drop everything if you hear sirens'. All roads into the town are now closed, other than to emergencies services.
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The Blue Lagoon geothermal spa has been closed to tourists (Getty Images)Iceland - one of the most geologically active regions in the world - has 30 active volcanic sites. Residents were urged to "remain calm because we have a good amount of time to react" after the decision was made to evacuate.
"The likelihood of an eruption remains high," officials from the Icelandic Met Office said today. "If an eruption occurs, the most likely location will be on the magma intrusion. Our latest hazard assessment does not indicate any other potential eruption sites."
Matthew James Roberts, the director of the Service and Research Division at the Icelandic Meteorological Office, told Reuters that magma building up under the earth's surface is causing the ground "to deform, effectively balloon, as the pressure of the magma and the volume of the magma increases."
All roads into Grindavik have been closed as residents leave their homes (AP)Huge sinkholes have emerged on roads due to volcanic activity while the nearby The popular Blue Lagoon geothermal spa has been closed to tourists. Meteorologists are continue to keep a very close eye on the region after high levels of sufur dioxide were detected. There's been an increase in earthquake activity the region surrounding the Icelandic capital, Reykjavik, since late October.
Icelandic Met Office official Benedikt Ófeigsson says it is likely that the magma has come very close to the surface. “SO2 is not released from magma until very close to the surface. It just means the top kilometer,” he told local media. We are talking about maybe 500 meters. It’s unclear, it’s so high pressure, it’s pressure dependent when it comes up. So it’s not possible to tell the depth directly, but it [the magma] must be very shallow for us to see SO2”.