Size 4.2 quake hits Iceland’s Bárðarbunga volcano

Bárðarbunga last erupted August 2014-February 2015.

Bárðarbunga last erupted August 2014-February 2015. Photo: Rax / Ragnar Axelsson

A magnitude 4.2 earthquake struck the Bárðarbunga volcano – under Iceland’s famous Vatnajökull glacier – just after midnight last night.

This is the biggest tremor to hit the area since the most recent Bárðarbunga volcanic eruption ended in February 2015.

The quake was followed by around fifteen aftershocks, the biggest of which measured 3.5 and occurred at 1:01am.

There are no signs of magma movements or volcanic activity. Last night’s tremors are thought likely to be linked to movements in the circular cracks of the Bárðarbunga caldera.

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