Earthquake of magnitude 4.8 this morning originating in Fagradalsfjall
Around 1600 earthquakes have been detected in Reykjanes peninsula since yesterday. Screenshot/The Met Office
An earthquake was felt well in the capital area at 7.31 this morning. It was felt well in Hádegismóar in Reykjavík, where mbl.is and Morgunblaðið are located, and in Seltjarnarnes.
At least five quakes larger than 3 have been reported in Reykjanes since 6 am this morning.
Early measurements indicate the quake was magnitude 4.3 and originated at Fagradalsfjall, according to the Icelandic Met Office’s natural hazards specialist.
The Meteorological Office has no way of reviewing the earthquakes measured in Reykjanes last 24 hours, so these are preliminary results.
Another quake of similar magnitude was felt in the capital area at 7:4 AM and another one that seemed veru strong at 8:23 AM and now it has been reported to be 4.8 in magnitude.
A swarm of earhquakes started yesterday
An earthquake of 3.6 magnitude hit the Reykjanes peninsula last night at 11 PM. The quake is the largest to hit the area in the past year. The quake was felt well in the Reykjanes peninsula and the capital region.
It is part of an earthquake swarm that has been ongoing in Fagradalsfjall mountain since 16 AM yesterday, with around 500 small earthquakes since then, most of them under 2 in strength.
The earthquake in Fagradalsfjall was felt acutely in the capital area. mbl.is/Kristinn Magnússon
Continued seismic activity expected
Elísabet Pálmadóttir, a natural hazard specialist at the Icelandic Met Office, told mbl.is last night that continued seismic activity can be expected overnight and even in the next few days. However, no unrest is measured in the area.
Meanwhile, Pálmadóttir says that the activity indicates an influx of magma under Fagradalsfjall, but in early April, a land rise began to be measured in the area.
The likelihood is that the area is waking up again
The area has not seen similar activity since the eruption nearly a year ago. “These conditions may die down, but there is a good chance that the area will be awakening again. Whether it will end in an eruption is difficult to tell.”
1600 earthaquakes detected since yesterday
This morning, over 1600 earthquakes had been reported in the earthquake swarm that started yesterday. In total, 11 earthquakes have been recorded with a magnitude greater than 3. This morning 4 earthquakes have been reported over 4 in magnitude.
This is reported in a notice from the Icelandic Met Office’s Natural Hazards Watch.
It says the quakes have been well felt in the Reykjanes peninsula, the capital region and Akranes.
Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management in a meeting now
Continued seismic activity is expected in the coming days and people are advised not to travel in the area where rockfall is more likely.
Land rise at Fagradalsfjall began in early April and the activity is now believed to be caused by magma intrusion at a depth of about 5 kilometers.
The scientists of the Icelandic Met Office and the University of Iceland are in a meeting with the Icelandic Met Office that started at 9 AM and review further data, as announced.
The quake was at a depth of around 6.4 km and was located about 1.8 km east-northeast-northeast of Fagradalsfjall, the website of the Icelandic Met Office stated.
