Earthquakes near Kleifarvatn shake Southwest Iceland

A powerful earthquake struck near Kleifarvatn Lake at 6:03 pm yesterday, shaking the southwest corner of Iceland and being widely felt in the capital area. A series of aftershocks followed, several of which were also felt across the region.

The Icelandic Meteorological Office reports that the earthquakes originated northwest of Kleifarvatn, in the area between Sveifluháls and Trölladyngja. The events are classified as trigger earthquakes, likely caused by tension in the crust due to magma intrusion further west on the Reykjanes Peninsula.

Magnitude 3.6 and above

According to Minney Sigurðardóttir, natural hazard expert at the Meteorological Office, initial estimates indicated several quakes exceeded magnitude 3, with the largest initially measured over magnitude 4. Later updates revised the strongest quake to magnitude 3.6.

“Around 5:30 pm, an earthquake swarm began east of Trölladyngja, and nearly 50 earthquakes have been recorded so far,” a statement from the Meteorological Office read.
“The average depth is between 4 to 6 km, and the activity is most likely triggered by earlier seismic and volcanic events near Reykjanestá and Eldey.”

Even stronger quake felt later in the evening

Another strong earthquake shook the capital area just before 11 pm, and according to Steinunn Helgadóttir, a natural hazard specialist, it may have been even stronger than the earlier 3.6-magnitude quake.

“Our initial figures show this earthquake measured around magnitude 4, occurring in the same area between Trölladyngja and Kleifarvatn,” said Helgadóttir.
“These are classic trigger quakes, caused by the release of stress in the crust. The activity seems to have shifted east from Eldey to the Trölladyngja–Kleifarvatn region.”

Although seismic activity in the magma corridor and around Reykjanestá and Eldey has diminished, the Kleifarvatn area remains active, warranting continued monitoring.