Politics and Society | Iceland Monitor | Wed 1 Jun 2022 | 15.00 GMT

The earthquakes are causing uncomfortable uncertainty

The Prime Minister of Iceland, Katrín Jakobsdóttir. mbl.is/Eggert Jóhannesson

Yesterday it was decided in a meeting of the National Security Council to form a response team because of the earthquakes in the Reykjanes peninsula and possible volcanic eruptions. The announcement was put forth on the Facebook page of the Prime Minister of Iceland, Katrín Jakobsdóttir.

The response team will be coordinating and organising responses in case of an eruption or earthquakes in the area which would ensure the safety of the towns in the area, the people and businesses.

The town of Grindavík is is in the area of the earthquake. The mountain Þorbjörn can be seen in the left of the picture in the background, but there land has risen considerably in recent weeks. mbl.is/Kristinn Magnússon

"The government is monitoring closely the situation now as always, and our experience from last year is still fresh in our minds, when the earthquakes in Geldingadalur ended with the volcanic eruption in Fagradalsfjall," writes Jakobsdóttir on Facebook.

She says the uncertainty is uncomfortable as those who are feeling the earthquakes almost daily know best.

"The government, in cooperation with the Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management and others, put the utmost emphasis on ensuring the safety of the population, the safety of the homes and our infrastructure in a case the series of earthquakes result in a volcanic eruption."

Here is the Prime Minister's post on Facebook:

"The earth is shaking yet again in the Reykjanes peninsula and now also in the North of Iceland. Earthquakes always have a big impact on those who are living in the area, and even more when there is a series of earthquakes that has been going on for a long time. The government is monitoring closely the situation now as always, and our experience from last year is still fresh in our minds, when the earthquakes in Geldingadalur ended with the volcanic eruption in Fagradalsfjall. The responsibility for action falls on a few governmental ministries and institutions and the situation calls for a clear vision and a coordinated action plan from the Prime Minister's Office.We went over the situation at a meeting of the Security Council yesterday, and last week the Council of Ministers met to assess the situation and go over the essential action plans.

The Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management went over a few case scenarios and how they would affect the security of the citizens and the impact on infastructures. It was decided at the meeting to form a response team of because of the earthquakes in the Reykjanes peninsula and possible volcanic eruptions. The response team is responsible for finalising the organisation and coordination in the action plan so it best guarantees the safety of the institutions, towns and other concerned parties.

Uncertainty is uncomfortable as those who are feeling the earthquakes almost daily know best. The government, in cooperation with the Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management and others, put the utmost emphasis on ensuring the safety of the population, the safety of the homes and our infrastructure in a case the series of earthquakes result in a volcanic eruption."