Uncertainty alert raised due to seismic swarm and possible magma intrusion
Fagradals mountain. mbl.is/Eggert Jóhannesson
The National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police has, in agreement with the Commissioner of the Police in Suðurnes, declared an uncertainty level of civil protection due to the series of earthquakes on the Reykjanes peninsula. The earthquakes began early this morning and is still ongoing.
“Inhabitants are encouraged to pay attention to loose items items that can fall during earthquakes and make sure nothing can fall on people in their sleep. The Icelandic Met Office has also raised awareness that rock rolling down hills and landslides can occur in steep areas, so it is good to be careful when walking in steep slopes,” the announcement states.
About 1,000 quakes
About one thousand earthquakes have been detected around the area around Þorbjörn and Fagra-dals-fjall since midnight. The latest data from the Icelandic Met Office indicates that there are volcanic earthquakes due to magma accumulation under the Fagradalsfjall mountain.
This is what Lovísa Mjöll Gudmundsdóttir, a natural-hazard specialist at the Icelandic Met Office, says.
When asked about the magma collection, she says that we need to wait and see how things will develop over the next few days, i.e. whether the activity will stop or continue.
“If it continues like this, then there’s a question --if there’s a magma intrusion forming.”
Guðmundsdóttir says the earthquakes are reminiscent of those around Þorbjörn mountain before the volcanic eruption in Merdardalir in 2022.
She says the Icelandic Met Office continues to keep an eye on the situation. No special meeting has been called about the situation yet.
